Restore your
spark.
For high achievers who've hit the wall
You've met expectations—often exceeding them. But lately, the drive that used to fuel you feels more like a burden. We help you find your way back without giving up what matters.
When "Successful" Feels Like Surviving
You've worked hard to get where you are. You've met expectations—often exceeding them. But lately, the drive that used to fuel you feels more like a burden. You're going through the motions, running on empty, wondering when you lost the spark that made it all feel worthwhile.
Burnout isn't just being tired. It's a state of chronic stress that leads to emotional exhaustion, detachment, and a creeping sense that nothing you do matters.
Restructure Your Relationship with Work
Ironically, the very traits that made you successful—perfectionism, high standards, caring deeply—are often what got you here. It's meaningful work, but it comes at a cost.
At Ascend Therapy in Naperville, we work with professionals, parents, caregivers, and high achievers who've hit the wall. We don't just help you cope with stress—we help you restructure your relationship with work, rest, and meaning so you can sustain success without sacrificing yourself.
Sound Familiar?
You might be a good fit if...
- You're exhausted but can't seem to slow down
- You feel resentful of demands that used to feel manageable
- Your weekends are for "recovery" but you never actually recover
- You've lost interest in hobbies, friends, or activities you used to enjoy
- You struggle to set boundaries—or feel guilty when you do
- You feel like an imposter despite objective success
- Physical symptoms (headaches, tension, insomnia) are your new normal
Warning Signs
Recognizing burnout.
Burnout develops gradually. By the time you notice, you may already be deep in it.
Sustainable Success
Our approach.
Recovery from burnout requires more than a vacation. It requires a fundamental shift in how you relate to work, rest, and yourself.
ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy)
Get clear on what actually matters to you. Stop living by "shoulds" and start living by values. Build psychological flexibility.
Mindfulness (Stress Reduction)
Learn to notice stress patterns early. Develop present-moment awareness that prevents the spiral before it starts.
Values Clarification
Reconnect with what matters beyond achievement. Design a life that's successful AND fulfilling.
Boundary Skills
Learn to say no without guilt. Protect your time and energy. Navigate workplace and family expectations.
What to Expect
The path to balance.
Assessment
Map your stress patterns, identify what's driving burnout, and clarify your goals.
Stabilization
Address acute symptoms like insomnia or panic. Introduce immediate stress-reduction techniques.
Values Work
Get clear on what really matters to you outside of productivity. Identify the gaps between values and current life.
Restructure
Build boundaries, change unhelpful perfectionist patterns, and create sustainable systems.
Maintain
Develop early warning systems and ongoing practices for sustained wellbeing.
Our Team
Meet your specialists.
Our therapists understand the pressures of high achievement and help you find sustainable success.
Sara Banks, LCSW
Specialties
Works with professionals navigating stress, perfectionism, and work-life balance using ACT.
Dr. Jonathan Woodin, PsyD
Specialties
Specializes in values-based living and helping high achievers reconnect with meaning.
Nagla Mostafa, LMFT
Specialties
15+ years helping clients navigate work stress, relationship dynamics, and life balance.
Takeisha Rheams, LCPC
Specialties
Helps young professionals navigate career stress, imposter syndrome, and life transitions.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions.
Burnout is chronic stress that's accumulated to the point of breakdown. While anyone can experience temporary stress, burnout represents a deeper pattern. Therapy helps you understand how you got here, develop sustainable coping strategies, and restructure your life to prevent it from happening again.
That's exactly the pattern keeping you stuck. Burnout treatment is an investment that pays dividends in productivity, energy, and quality of life. Most clients find that the time spent in therapy saves time overall by reducing inefficiency and preventing bigger problems.
Not necessarily. Many people recover from burnout while staying in their current roles. The changes are often internal—how you relate to work, how you set boundaries, how you prioritize. Sometimes external changes are needed, but we work with your real constraints.
It depends on how deep you are. Some people feel significant relief within 6-8 sessions. Others, especially those with long-standing patterns or perfectionism, benefit from 3-6 months. The goal is lasting change, not a slow return to the same problem.
Absolutely. Online therapy is particularly convenient for busy professionals. You can fit sessions into your schedule without commute time. We offer telehealth throughout Illinois.
Ready to Find Balance?
Burnout isn't a life sentence. Reclaim your energy and your time with practical, evidence-based support.