Burnout doesn’t just happen overnight. It creeps in quietly—through exhaustion, disconnection, and the feeling that no matter how much you give, it’s never enough. Whether you're burned out from work, social obligations, or caregiving roles, the emotional toll is real. And you’re not alone. In my Virginia-based therapy practice (offered remotely across the state), many clients come in feeling overwhelmed by the constant push to keep going—even when their minds and bodies are

By using calming techniques and fostering social connection, we can return to a state of calm and reestablish balance in our nervous system. Polyvagal Theory suggests that these responses are governed by the autonomic nervous system (ANS), specifically the vagus nerve, which regulates physiological states of arousal. The theory posits that our ANS operates on a continuum from safety to danger, and the body shifts between states of calm and activation based on perceived threat