Burnout & Emotional Numbness in Counselling: A True Reflection

Burnout - Emotional Numbness or Detachment from Clients, impact on clients, and support given

In my years supervising colleagues I have witness how some of my colleagues experienced the emotional numbness or detachment from clients. This is an example of a colleague that worked with a heavy case load of clients dealing with trauma. Initially they were deeply empathetic and engaged in their sessions. However, over time, they started noticing a shift in their responses.

This particular client shared a painful story about experiencing grief after losing a loved one in their first session with my colleague. Instead of feeling emotionally present and compassionate as my colleague normally would, they catch themselves feeling indifferent and disconnected. They noticed that rather than responding with warmth, they gave a generic, automated response, something like “That sounds really tough. How does that make you feel?” however internally, they felt “nothing”. Upon reflecting on this they realised that they were not fully engaged in their sessions for weeks.

Other signs come to surface, and they noticed how they did no longer felt the same sense of fulfilment from helping clients and instead they felt constantly emotionally drained. This detachment felt by my colleague was a classic sign of burnout-induced emotional numbness. They were once passionate about their work, but they had become distant and disengaged, and this was a self-protective mechanism against emotional exhaustion.

When a counsellor experiences emotional numbness or detachment, it can have serious consequences for both the client and the therapeutic relationship. To start, the client may feel unheard or invalidated. Clients often seek counselling to feel understood, validated, and emotionally supported. If a counsellor responds in a disengaged or indifferent manner, the client may perceive this as a lack of care or interest, as if their struggles are not important or worthy of attention.

Another important point is that the relationship between a counsellor and client is built on trust and rapport. When a client senses that their counsellor is emotionally distant, it can create a rupture in the therapeutic alliance. They may feel hesitant to open up further, fearing judgment or disinterest. Over time, this can weaken trust and diminish the effectiveness of therapy. If a client consistently feels unheard or unsupported, they may choose to discontinue therapy prematurely. They might assume that counselling is not helpful or that their concerns are being minimised. This can prevent them from receiving the support they need and may even reinforce negative beliefs about seeking help.

Another important aspect is that a detached or emotionally numb response from a counsellor raises significant ethical concerns, particularly in the context of the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. Ethically, counsellors are expected to provide client centred care, which is built on the foundation of empathy, respect, and a genuine desire to understand the client’s experience.

When a counsellor becomes emotionally detached, this undermines the core principle of being empathetic and fully present with clients. The BACP emphasises the importance of professional competence, ensuring that counsellors maintain the ability to offer a high standard of care while respecting the dignity and autonomy of clients. Persistent emotional numbness can result in a breakdown of the therapeutic relationship, leading to diminished trust, loss of rapport, and a reduced ability to provide effective therapy. This detachment can also impair the counsellor's ability to offer the necessary emotional support and understanding required in sensitive therapeutic contexts, particularly when working with vulnerable clients.

Counsellors have an ethical responsibility to recognise when they are not fit to practice and in such cases, they are obliged to seek supervision, support, or even take a step back from direct client work to protect both their own wellbeing and the welfare of their clients. Failure to do so can lead to potential complaints, harm to the client, and a violation of ethical obligations, which may have serious professional and legal consequences.

When I noticed the signs of emotional numbness in my colleague, it became clear that the situation was more than just temporary fatigue, it was a sign of deeper burnout. As their supervisor, my first step was to create a safe, non-judgmental space for them to discuss their feelings and reflect on their experience. We explored what had been going on in their personal and professional life to identify potential stressors and triggers.

It was important to validate their experience and reassured them that what they were feeling was not a reflection of personal failure, but rather a natural consequence of emotional overload. I explained that emotional numbness, especially in the context of working with trauma clients, can be a sign of burnout and that self-awareness is the first step toward recovery. We discussed how their high caseload, particularly working with clients in crisis, likely contributed to their emotional exhaustion. The ongoing exposure to trauma was also discussed as this can be draining, and as a counsellor, it is important to acknowledge emotional limits.

One of the first steps I encouraged was for them to take time for themselves. This was well received and we discussed taking a break from their caseload by scheduling a few days off to rest and disconnect. We also discussed setting boundaries, both for their professional and personal life. Taking time off allowed them to regenerate emotionally and come back to work with a refreshed perspective. During this time, I recommended that they focus on activities that recharge their emotional energy. They mentioned painting as their favourite hobby, spending time with family and long walks in nature. I also encouraged them to check in with themselves regularly to see how they were feeling, using journaling or mindfulness as tools for self-reflection.

Recognising that the heavy caseload was a significant contributor to their burnout, my colleague had a conversation with their manager and a plan was developed to reducing their client load upon their return to ensure that they could maintain a sustainable workload moving forward and making sure that they could provide quality care without sacrificing their own wellbeing.

We also discussed the possibility of seeking therapy for themselves. Working as a counsellor can sometimes create the false perception that we should be able to handle everything on our own. I suggested that they seek support from a therapist who could provide them with a confidential space to process their emotions and work through any unresolved feelings that may have been contributing to their burnout. The therapy sessions provided my colleague with a space to explore their feelings, manage their emotional responses, and develop healthier coping strategies. Therapy also gave them the opportunity to reconnect with their passion for helping others by reminding them of the meaning and value of their work.

As my supervisee began to take these steps—taking time off, reducing their caseload, and seeking therapy they slowly started to rebuild their emotional resilience. Over the following weeks, they reported feeling more present with their clients, although it took time to regain their usual level of empathy and engagement. It was important to not rush the recovery process and instead focus on gradual improvement. We scheduled short regular supervision check ins to ensure they stayed in track with their recovery not to fall back into old patterns of overworking. We agreed that self-care would become a regular part of their routine. They have set a weekly self-care schedule that included time for rest, relaxation, and fun activities outside work. They also incorporated mindfulness and meditation to help stay grounded and connected with their own emotions.

Maintaining balance is an ongoing process, especially in a profession that can be emotionally demanding. In supervision, we continued to monitor their emotional health, and over time, they began to feel more engaged and fulfilled in their work. Their emotional numbness gradually faded, and they regained a sense of purpose and energy.