Caring for the Caregiver: Befriending Burnout as a Path to Renewal

Caregivers across all professions—from therapists to nurses, spiritual directors to first responders—are often companions on the path, walking with those they care for, helping to hold space for healing. But what happens when the caregiver feels lost or weary on this shared journey? The truth is, burnout is not only inevitable in caregiving—it is essential. It is a natural part of the cycle, creating the necessary space for caregivers to reconnect with meaning and redefine their sense of purpose. 

Clarissa Pinkola Estés speaks powerfully about the cycles of life and death, both literal and metaphorical. As she writes, “Sometimes the one who is running from the Life/Death/Life nature insists on thinking of love as a boon only. Yet love in its fullest form is a series of deaths and rebirths. We let go of one phase, one aspect of love, and enter another. Passion dies and is brought back. Pain is chased away and surfaces another time. To love means to embrace and at the same time to withstand many endings, and many, many beginnings—all in the same relationship” (Estés, 1992, p. 243). 

Just as this is true of love in relationships, it is also true of our relationship with our life’s work. We must be willing to let go of certain phases of our work—allowing parts to die—so that something new and vibrant can be born. The caregiving journey is not linear; it involves many endings and beginnings, growth and loss, just as any other meaningful relationship in life does. This is why burnout, often seen as an ending, is actually an invitation to enter into a new beginning. 

Understanding Burnout: More Than Exhaustion 

You probably already know what causes burnout: from a combination of personal challenges, demanding work environments, and the emotional and mental load of supporting others. Burnout is more than just feeling exhausted—it’s the depletion of meaning. Christina Maslach and Michael Leiter, leading researchers on the subject, explain that people experiencing burnout lose not just energy but their psychological connection with their work. This loss of meaning can make caregivers feel detached, depressed, exhausted, and cynical (Maslach & Leiter, 1997). 

Read this twice: Burnout is normal, recurring, and necessary. 

Befriending Burnout: A Natural Part of Growth 

What if we could reframe burnout? Instead of seeing it as a failure, we could view it as a natural part of our professional lives—a shedding of old ways, making room for new perspectives. As Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés describes in the Life-Death-Life Cycle, everything goes through phases of birth, growth, decline, death, and rebirth (Estés, 1992). In caregiving, we’re often testing our ideals against the reality of the work. When these diverge, meaning can be lost. But this loss creates the space for renewal and new ideas to emerge. 

Whether we’re caring for a person or a project, burnout is inevitable. It’s part of the natural cycle between periods of steady meaning and purpose and the void of burnout, which gives rise to new meaning. In the space between, we can feel empty, lost, or unsure of how to move forward. It’s often the point where we question why we began or if we should continue. But this very void is where meaning has the chance to be reignited. 

My Personal Experience with Burnout 

Art has always been my refuge, a way to connect with something deeper and alive. As a child, creating wasn’t about producing—it was about tapping into a world rich with imagination and meaning. But by the time I neared the end of art school, I had lost that connection. The demands of turning out finished work left me feeling burned out and hollow, detached from the very source that had once nourished me. 

In my search for renewal, I discovered Carl Jung and his teachings on the imaginal world—the realm where symbols and images speak to us from the unconscious. It felt like a homecoming. Jung’s work helped me understand that the very images I explored as a child were alive, carrying wisdom I hadn’t fully realized. It was a turning point that not only restored my sense of purpose but inspired me to become a therapist. Now, I help others reconnect with their own inner worlds, guiding them through the same transformative process that helped me. Burnout, I’ve learned, isn’t an ending—it’s an invitation to begin again, with deeper clarity and meaning. 

What to Do About Burnout: Restoring Energy and Meaning 

We often tell our clients to rest, recharge, and take care of themselves, but how often do we practice what we preach? Self-care is important, yes, but equally important for recovering from burnout is the ability to restore meaning. Meaning is fluid, and over time, it will change—just as we change. 

For caregivers, embracing burnout as a necessary cycle in life allows us to reconnect with the deeper “why” behind the work. Meaning will decline and go away, only to re-emerge in new, healthier, and more vibrant forms. Burnout doesn’t mean you should quit. It means you are in the void, and something new is on its way. Don’t quit before the change happens. 

Imaginal Exercise: Discovering Your Inner Guide 

In Jungian depth psychology, the imaginal realm is where inner symbols, archetypes, and guiding forces reside. These inner images, often unconscious, can provide insight and guidance during moments of confusion, burnout, or change. One practical exercise that caregivers can use to reconnect with their inner wisdom is to invite an image to emerge and begin a dialogue with it. 

Here’s a simple way to try this practice: 

• Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, allowing yourself to settle. 

• Hold in mind a question or dilemma you’re facing in your caregiving work. This could be related to burnout, decision-making, or finding new meaning. 

• Wait for an image to come—it could be a symbol, an object, or even a figure. Trust whatever emerges, even if it seems strange or irrelevant. 

• Draw the image or find a likeness of it online or in print and display it where you can see it. This helps anchor the imaginal work in your daily life. 

• Begin a dialogue with the image. You can ask it questions such as: 

• “Who or what are you to me?” 

• “What is your name or title?” 

• “What qualities are you bringing to my attention?” 

• “What message, gift or insight are you bringing to my question?” 

• Continue the conversation with your own questions until you feel it’s complete. This imaginal work allows the unconscious to reveal insights that might be hidden from your conscious awareness, helping you to reconnect with purpose and meaning in your caregiving work. 

Additional Resources for Caregivers 

To further support you in managing burnout and reconnecting with your purpose, we recommend these helpful resources: 

• Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI): Leading burnout assessment tool
  Maslach Burnout Inventory 

• American Psychiatric Association Free Burnout Assessment Tool:
  APA Burnout Assessment 

• 10 TED Talks for When You Feel Totally Burned Out:
  TED Talks 

• Six Dimensions of Wellness Model:
  National Wellness Model 

• Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky and Connie Burk 

• Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker J. Palmer 

Join Nattan Hollander’s Care for the Caregiver Workshops 

If you’re a caregiver experiencing burnout, feeling disconnected from your work, or in search of deeper meaning, Nattan Hollander offers workshops designed specifically for caregivers like you. These workshops use imaginal (Jungian) techniques to help participants access their inner guidance and find renewed purpose. Whether you prefer to work in a group setting or embark on a solo journey of self-discovery, Nattan’s workshops offer practical tools to help you navigate the void and rekindle your spark. 

Visit  HYPERLINK “http://www.nattanhollander.com/”www.nattanhollander.com to learn more and sign up for an upcoming workshop or explore the solo journey options. 

References 

Estés, C. P. (1992). Women who run with the wolves: Myths and stories of the wild woman archetype. Ballantine Books. 

Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (1997). The truth about burnout: How organizations cause personal stress and what to do about it. Jossey-Bass. 

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