Parenting Burnout: Finding Your Way Back to Calm and Connection
Parenting Burnout: Finding Your Way Back to Calm and Connection
Parenting can be one of the most meaningful and rewarding experiences in life — but it can also be exhausting. Many parents, especially those raising school-age or neurodivergent children, find themselves feeling drained, overwhelmed, and disconnected from themselves. This experience is often called parenting burnout, and you are not alone if you’ve been feeling it.
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California, I work with parents who feel stuck in survival mode and are longing for balance, support, and hope.
What Is Parenting Burnout?
Parenting burnout is more than just being tired. It’s a chronic state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion that can make it difficult to show up as the parent you want to be. Common signs include:
Feeling irritable or short-tempered with your children or partner
Trouble sleeping, or never feeling rested
Guilt for needing time away from your family
Feeling disconnected from joy, hobbies, or your sense of self
Questioning whether you’re “good enough” as a parent
Burnout often comes from trying to do it all without enough rest, support, or self-compassion.
Why Self-Care Isn’t Selfish
Many parents tell me they feel guilty when they take time for themselves. But the truth is, caring for yourself is an essential part of caring for your family. Just like an empty cup can’t pour water, a depleted parent can’t give from a place of warmth and patience.
Simple practices that help:
Taking five minutes for deep breathing before transitions
Saying “no” to extra commitments that stretch you too thin
Reaching out for support — whether from friends, family, or therapy
Remembering that rest is productive
How Therapy Can Help Parents Facing Burnout
In therapy, you don’t have to carry the weight alone. Together, we can:
Explore the root causes of your burnout
Learn tools to regulate stress and calm your nervous system
Build healthier boundaries around time and energy
Reconnect with your identity outside of parenting
Strengthen your ability to show up with compassion for yourself and your children
I work with parents throughout California, and in person in Scotts Valley and Aptos, to help them find relief, regain balance, and feel more grounded in daily life.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
If you’re noticing signs of burnout, know that you are not failing — you are simply human. Support is available, and small shifts can make a big difference.
If you’re ready to begin easing the weight of parenting burnout, I’d be honored to walk alongside you.
📍 I offer in-person sessions in Scotts Valley, CA, and Aptos, CA, as well as secure online therapy for clients throughout California.
👉 Contact me here to schedule a consultation.
✨ You deserve care, too. Taking the first step toward support can help you reclaim calm, joy, and connection — for yourself and your family.
Parenting can be one of the most meaningful and rewarding experiences in life — but it can also be exhausting. Many parents, especially those raising school-age or neurodivergent children, find themselves feeling drained, overwhelmed, and disconnected from themselves. This experience is often called parenting burnout, and you are not alone if you’ve been feeling it.
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California, I work with parents who feel stuck in survival mode and are longing for balance, support, and hope.
What Is Parenting Burnout?
Parenting burnout is more than just being tired. It’s a chronic state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion that can make it difficult to show up as the parent you want to be. Common signs include:
Feeling irritable or short-tempered with your children or partner
Trouble sleeping, or never feeling rested
Guilt for needing time away from your family
Feeling disconnected from joy, hobbies, or your sense of self
Questioning whether you’re “good enough” as a parent
Burnout often comes from trying to do it all without enough rest, support, or self-compassion.
Why Self-Care Isn’t Selfish
Many parents tell me they feel guilty when they take time for themselves. But the truth is, caring for yourself is an essential part of caring for your family. As the saying goes you cannot pour from an empty cup and a depleted parent can’t give from a place of warmth and patience.
Simple practices that help:
Taking five minutes for deep breathing before transitions
Saying “no” to extra commitments that stretch you too thin
Reaching out for support — whether from friends, family, or therapy
Remembering that rest is productive
How Therapy Can Help Parents Facing Burnout
In therapy, you don’t have to carry the weight alone. Together, we can:
Explore the root causes of your burnout
Learn tools to regulate stress and calm your nervous system
Build healthier boundaries around time and energy
Reconnect with your identity outside of parenting
Strengthen your ability to show up with compassion for yourself and your children
I work with parents throughout California, and in person in Scotts Valley and Aptos, to help them find relief, regain balance, and feel more grounded in daily life.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
If you’re noticing signs of burnout, know that you are not failing — you are simply human. Support is available. If you’re ready to begin easing the weight of parenting burnout, I’d be honored to walk alongside you.
📍 I offer in-person sessions in Scotts Valley, CA, and Aptos, CA, as well as secure online therapy for clients throughout California. Give me a call at (831) 460-2550 x4. I offer free 15 phone consultations to see if we are a good fit.
✨ You deserve care, too. Taking the first step toward support can help you reclaim calm, joy, and connection — for yourself and your family.