Career, Purpose & Work-Life Balance

Common Concerns

• Career stress, burnout, and general existential dread: Navigating high expectations while questioning if the grind is worth the inner cost—and finding moments of unexpected humour in the chaos
• Workplace bias: recognizing that gender, race, and LGBTQ+ identity shape our professional reality, demanding both courage and a bit of irreverence
• Impostor syndrome: "Am I actually good at this or just faking it?"—a reminder that every brave step forward is powered by vulnerability
• Work-life balance: Or the myth of it—a relentless quest for harmony in a world where boundaries blur faster than you can say "self-care," especially for working moms who master the art of juggling board meetings and bedtime stories
• Navigating neurodivergence at work: Embracing the challenge of thriving in environments that often favour conformity, while boldly rewriting the rules with your unique brilliance

Why Work Stress Hits Different…And What Your Nervous System Has to Say About It

Here’s a not-so-fun fact: Work stress isn’t just about deadlines and performance reviews—it’s about safety. Your nervous system is wired for survival, and in today’s world, survival is often tied to work. That’s why burnout isn’t just about being tired; it’s about your body sending out an SOS because it doesn’t feel safe to slow down.

From a psychotherapy perspective, work taps into deep attachment patterns. Ever notice how feedback from a boss can feel weirdly personal? Or how does impostor syndrome convince you that you’re one mistake away from being "found out"? That’s because workplaces, like families, have hierarchies, expectations, and (sometimes dysfunctional) dynamics that can activate old emotional patterns.

And if you’re navigating workplace bias, systemic barriers, or the mental gymnastics of masking neurodivergence, the stress isn’t just mental—it’s physiological. Your nervous system is working overtime, constantly assessing: Am I safe to be myself here? Do I belong? Is this sustainable?

Therapy won’t magically fix capitalism (we wish), but it can help you unpack these patterns, set boundaries that actually work, and redefine success on your own terms. Because you deserve more than just pushing through—you deserve a career (and a life) that doesn’t feel like an endurance test.