Running on empty isn’t a personality trait.
Counselling for exhaustion, work stress and the feeling that you have nothing left to give.
Written by Elza Berk, Founder & registered counsellor · ASCHP WCW/271 · 20+ years’ clinical experience · Updated 28 September 2026
Burnout creeps in. First you’re tired; then you’re cynical; then even small tasks feel impossible. It often happens to the most committed people — carers, professionals, parents and anyone who has been holding too much for too long.
In South Africa, many people carry extra loads: financial pressure, family responsibilities, long commutes, safety concerns and jobs that expect more with less. Rest alone doesn’t fix burnout when the conditions stay the same.
Counselling helps you recover your energy, understand the beliefs that keep you over-giving, set boundaries that hold, and make practical decisions about what needs to change.
Burnout often shows up as
- Exhaustion that rest doesn’t fix
- Dreading work or daily responsibilities
- Feeling detached, cynical or numb
- Struggling to concentrate
- Getting ill more often
- Guilt when you try to rest
You don’t need a diagnosis to reach out.
Free calming tool →How we work with you.
Recover
Practical ways to restore sleep, energy and a sense of calm.
Boundaries
Learning to say no without guilt, and protecting what matters.
Re-evaluate
Clarity on the work, roles and expectations you want going forward.
Choose who feels right.
Janika Cumpsty
Head of Supervision
“You don’t have to do your inner work alone. I help clients identify their inherent strength and take action toward the change they truly want to see.”
- Childhood trauma
- PTSD / CPTSD
- Sexual trauma
English · Afrikaans · Dutch (reading)
Omashree Balie
Specialist Wellness Counsellor
“Seeking counselling is personal, difficult, and sometimes lonely — but the results are life-changing. I aim to make that journey as comfortable as possible.”
- Couples & marriage
- Divorce
- LGBTQIA+ affirming
English · Afrikaans
Talita Kondlo
Registered Wellness Counsellor
“I take a compassionate, client-centred approach — creating a safe space to explore emotions, heal from the past, and build healthier ways of coping going forward.”
- Trauma
- Couples
- Anger management
English · isiXhosa · isiZulu
Jamie-Leigh Brickles
Registered Specialist Wellness Counsellor
“Counselling is collaborative, and at its core it’s about your heart. I believe we all have the answers deeply rooted within us; sometimes we just need the courage to reach for them.”
- Anxiety
- Grief & loss
- Trauma
English
Elza Berk
Founder & CEO · Registered Counsellor
“I built MyTruth because I needed it then and it didn’t exist. Every counsellor here has been chosen for their capacity to sit with what is real.”
- Addiction (harm reduction)
- Trauma
- Eating disorders
English · Afrikaans
Common questions
Is burnout the same as depression?
They overlap, but burnout is usually tied to ongoing stress, especially work. If low mood persists even away from the stress, it may be depression, and counselling can help with both.
Can my employer pay for counselling?
If your company has a MyTruth corporate or EAP programme, yes — and your sessions stay confidential.
Can I book early morning or evening sessions?
Yes. We offer morning, afternoon and evening slots.
Your truth deserves to be heard.
Choose a counsellor who speaks your language and understands your world. Sessions are online, private and booked in minutes.