Do you often feel overwhelmed at work? This could be more than just one of the signs of burnout! Executive Counselling is Singapore’s first therapy practice dedicated exclusively to helping professionals. We chat with founder and CEO, former CNBC Asia presenter LISA OAKE, to learn more.
Why did you start a counselling practice dedicated to professionals?
Twenty years ago, during my time at CNBC, I conducted the first interview with then-President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono after the Boxing Day tsunami. A few minutes into the interview, he welled up with tears while describing the devastation in Banda Aceh.
In that exact moment, I realised that no matter how much we accomplish professionally, we’re all human beings who sometimes feel overwhelmed. I knew that my purpose was to support people who valued their careers and help them reach their full potential. I completed a Master of Counselling degree during the pandemic and established Executive Counselling in 2023.
How is this type of counselling different from normal counselling?
Executive counsellors use a client’s professional life as a jumping-off point for therapy. The way we show up at work reveals a lot about our belief systems and vulnerabilities. Exploring these issues and resolving destructive patterns can help us succeed at work and personally.
Besides feeling overwhelmed at work, what are some other common issues you see?
Clients often come to me with a sense of exhaustion and other feelings that they describe as signs of burnout. They feel emotionally numb and wonder if they need to change jobs or pursue an entirely new career. Counselling helps them gently explore the root causes of their discontent and untangle the different emotional threads.
Typical underlying issues include:
Perfectionism: If parental praise and love for a child is linked to accomplishments, it can trigger perfectionism and an unsustainable need to get everything 100 percent right. Cracks in this approach usually start later in life when the child starts a family of its own, and strives to be a perfect parent on top of being a perfect employee.
Disordered boundaries: Identity and sense of purpose are based on being the “strong one everyone else can count on”. People can run themselves ragged trying to help others while secretly brimming with resentment. Exploding in anger over a lack of reciprocity when a favour is not returned is a symptom of poor boundaries.
Relationship transference: Unresolved relationship issues from the past often show up in our professional lives. An inability to ask for a raise or feeling intimidated by an authority figure could be related to childhood abuse. Or disliking a co-worker you’ve only known for a short time could stem from resentment towards someone in your past (the colleague may remind you of a sibling who was considered the favourite). Understanding these dynamics can help you calibrate your reactions and build more productive relationships.
Imposter syndrome: We help clients identify when imposter syndrome is affecting their decisions and making them risk-avoidant. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment that can help reduce this destructive thought pattern.
Repressing any of these issues is like holding a beach ball underwater: you can do it for a long time, but at some point, it’s going to spring up and hit you in the face. When the beach ball resurfaces, it often looks like signs of burnout, emotional exhaustion, depression or addiction. We go on a journey with our clients and turn over every possible stone in our search for answers.
Where do your counselling and coaching sessions take place?
In-person sessions are conducted at our therapy space in Orchard. Online sessions are offered to clients from around the world via a secure platform to ensure complete privacy.
What’s offered:
- Individual Counselling
- Career and Life Coaching
- ADHD Coaching for Adults
- 360° Leadership Assessments
- Couples Counselling
Prices: $240 per online session; $270 for an in-person session
Executive Counselling
#10-10 International Building, 360 Orchard Road
8788 1232 | office@executivecounselling.com | executivecounselling.com
This article about signs of burnout and what to do when feeling overwhelmed at work first appeared in the January 2025 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!
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