Small Steps Counselling

Background: Emma is a secondary school teacher who has been working in a high-pressure, low socio-economic school environment for the past seven years. She has always been a high achiever and feels a strong sense of responsibility towards her students. Emma currently lives alone and enjoys activities like reading and hiking, but her busy schedule often leaves little time for herself.

Current Situation: Over the past year, Emma has noticed increasing levels of stress and emotional exhaustion. She feels overwhelmed by the demands of her job and often works late into the evening. Emma has begun experiencing physical symptoms like headaches, disrupted sleep and tension in her shoulders. She’s also noticed she’s become more irritable and is quick to tears, both at work and in her personal life. Emma is worried she’s heading toward burnout but feels guilty about the idea of stepping back or asking for help.

Goals for Counselling: Emma sought support to understand her stress response and develop strategies to better manage her workload, without compromising her wellbeing. She wanted to explore ways to set boundaries, prioritise self-care and relaxation and address her feelings of guilt when taking time for herself. Emma was also interested in learning how to recognise the early signs of burnout and build resilience to prevent it from happening again.