An increasing number of reports refer to an untamed and unchecked growth of burnout therapies.
The therapy of burnout depends mainly on the understanding of burnout, whether it is regarded as independent disease, as preliminary stage of a depression or as a comorbidity of depression.
Primary interventions aim at reducing known risk factors among individuals, in order to prevent burnout from developing. Secondary interventions aim at a selected group of people, evaluated to be at a high risk, in order to prevent burnout from actualizing. Tertiary interventions aim at individuals already suffering from the condition, in order to prevent adverse consequences, for example, loss of work ability.
Therapies which are used for the treatment of burnout are: psychotherapy, especially cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness, phototherapy, physiotherapy, adjuvant pharmacotherapy and complementary treatments like music therapy or body-mind therapies.
All individuals are different and whatever the therapeutic approach, the specific intervention, the techniques, the intervention intensity and the intervention duration itself needed are different for every individual.
Therefore, a measurement of the therapy outcome i.e. the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), is of incredible importance to the individual receiving the therapy as well as to the clinician providing the therapy.
I provide three types of therapy for burnout: Coaching, Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioural therapy.
A. Coaching:
Long utilized in the business world, coaching provides a results-oriented and stigma-free method to address burnout, primarily by increasing one’s internal locus of control. Coaching enhances self-awareness, drawing on individual strengths, questioning self-defeating thoughts and beliefs, examining new perspectives, and aligning personal values with professional duties. Coaching utilizes established techniques to increase one’s sense of accomplishment, purpose, and engagement, all critical in ameliorating burnout. Coaching presumes that the client already possesses strengths and skills to handle life’s challenges but is not accessing them maximally. Although an evidence base is not yet established, the theoretical basis of coaching’s efficacy derives from the fields of positive psychology, mindfulness, and self-determination theory.
Individuals usually participate in 4 hours of coaching during a four-month period and the coaching is tailored to focus on different aspects as desired by recipients.
B. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy:
A mindfulness intervention is a relatively simpler approach compared to a CBT approach.
The emphasises is on paying attention to the experience of the present moment and the non-judgmental acceptance of it.
However, mindfulness also involves learning to discover bodily signals of extra high stress levels, to identify destructive thinking and break the detrimental downward spiral, and to make realistic judgements and find a positive way out.
The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programme is a reliable framework to use in the process of developing resiliency in the face of stress.
In-keeping with biological, evolutionary and social psychological theories the three-system model for how people regulate their emotions is also of use during the Mindfulness approach. The three systems include the alarm system, the drive system and the soothing system. The alarm system is activated when a threat is perceived, and its function is to get people to seek protection. Emotions linked to this system are worry, anxiety, stress, fear and shame. The drive system is an energising and motivational system striving to achieve rewards and activating well‐being. This system gives rise to joy, euphoria and pleasure. The soothing system is activated when the other two systems are passive (i.e. when people are not striving to achieve something or do not need to deal with various threats). When this system is activated, feelings of calmness, happiness and contentment are experienced. People, especially those with high demands, self‐criticism and shame, can have an overactive alarm system, often leading to an inactive soothing system that is difficult to access. In these cases, the systems no longer function to help people act goal oriented or to protect them from threats. However, mindfulness training helps activate the soothing system, which balances the negative thoughts and emotions and calms down the alarm system.
Individuals usually participate in four to six one-hour sessions of mindfulness therapy during a six-week period and the mindfulness therapy is tailored to focus on different aspects as desired by recipients.
C. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT):
CBT is an empirically validated form of psychotherapy whose effectiveness has been scientifically proven.
CBT interventions are based on the cognitive theory, to change thoughts and emotions in relation to stress‐related problems and on behavioural techniques to enhance behavioural change. CBT is goal orientated, with the goals being: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time limited. Useful techniques include cognitive restructuring or reframing, guided discovery, journaling and thought records, activity scheduling, behavioural experiments, relaxation techniques and successive approximation.
Individuals usually participate in six to eight one-hour sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy during a eight week period and the CBT is tailored to focus on different aspects as desired by recipients.
