At the former Burnout Foundation I worked as a Senior Burnout Specialist for Expats.

When the foundation went offline, I continued this work on my own.

From all parts of the world I now receive expats with burnout in an office in Amsterdam, Utrecht or at home.

However dire the situation may be at the time of registration, after 8-12 sessions they are back on their feet and can continue their careers.

Burnout isn't a "normal" mental health condition. According to the WHO, it's a condition caused by "chronic work stress that hasn't been adequately managed" (by the employer).

Burnout is characterized by three dimensions:

- feeling of physical and mental exhaustion;

- increasing mental distance from your job;

- reduced (professional) skills and concentration.

Many physical and mental complaints can result from burnout, but the cause is almost always work-related. Therefore, according to the UWV (Employee Insurance Agency), an employer is responsible for the employee's recovery.

Burnout often lasts for months or even years before a client comes for help (the -unfortunately- well-known "frog in boiling water").

Because burnout isn't recognized as a mental health condition, it's "therefore" not listed in the DSM-V (the "bible" for psychologists). Consequently, treatment isn't covered by insurance. The employer should pay. Unfortunately, that's not always the case.

My rates are therefore very reasonable, even if the client pays for it themselves.

In my therapy I have a number of phases:

- Recognition: Accept that you have burnout!

- Recognition: when do the signs/symptoms occur?

- Stimuli Control: if you recognize the 'triggers', you can control them (coping).

- Control: you are the boss of your thoughts, you can deal with them.

It's hard work, with a lot of practice, but in the end it will all work out fine.

At the beginning it felt like entering a cave with bats, rats and poisonous snakes.

In the end it turns out to be a tunnel, with light at the end!

The special website if you have burnout symptoms:

www.Burnouthelpme.nl