As a Brisbane based counsellor and psychosocial recovery coach, working with support workers and fellow mental health professionals across Brisbane, I've noticed something interesting: burnout doesn't always look like the exhaustion we expect.

After more than fourteen years in psycho-social recovery work, and four years as a PACFA registered counsellor, I've learned that the need for professional support often shows up in subtle ways—small shifts that are easy to dismiss or rationalise away. These aren't dramatic red flags; they're quiet whispers that our professional wellbeing needs attention.

Here are five of the most common, yet overlooked, signs I’ve seen in my practice and experienced myself.

1. You’re Avoiding Your Usual Professional Development

That webinar email sits unopened. You skip a supervision session because "nothing major happened this week." When the activities that once fuelled your professional growth start to feel like chores, it’s often a sign that your capacity is stretched thin.

2. Client Success Stories Don't Feel as Rewarding

You're still doing good, effective work, but the sense of satisfaction has faded. The positive outcomes you help create feel routine rather than meaningful. This emotional disconnect is a protective measure, but it can also signal a deeper need for support.

3. You're Second-Guessing Your Core Competencies

You find yourself hesitating on decisions you used to make confidently, especially around professional boundaries or therapeutic approaches you know well. This erosion of professional confidence can be a quiet indicator of burnout.

4. Your Inner Critic Gets Louder About Your Own Wellbeing

You find yourself thinking, "I'm a professional; I should be handling this better." This internal judgment adds another layer of pressure, making it even harder to seek the support you readily encourage your own clients to find.

5. You're Giving Advice You Aren't Following Yourself

This is perhaps the most common sign. You spend your days teaching clients about the importance of self-care, boundaries, and seeking support, all while neglecting your own needs.

A Solution-Focused Way Forward

Instead of dwelling on what's wrong, a Solution-Focused approach asks a different set of questions. I often use a simple scaling question with fellow professionals:

• "On a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is feeling fully energised and 1 is completely drained, where are you with your professional wellbeing today?"

The number itself isn't what's important. The crucial follow-up question is:

• "What is already happening that's keeping you from being one point lower? And what would it take to move you just one point higher?"

This small shift focuses on existing strengths and achievable next steps, which is often the most compassionate and effective way to start.

Your Next Step

Taking care of your professional wellbeing isn't selfish—it's an ethical necessity for the clients and communities we serve.

Ready to check in with your own wellbeing?

Download my free 'Weekly Wellbeing Check-In for Professionals.' It’s a simple, 5-minute SFBT assessment tool I use with fellow counsellors to maintain balance and prevent burnout.