Stress & Burnout Counselling in Vancouver — Work Stress and Burnout Therapy - Dr. Samuel

Notice: For general interest only; may contain inaccuracies. Not a diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, or professional, clinical, or legal advice. Reading this creates no counsellor-client relationship. By reading this page, you agree to these terms. Full disclaimer. In an emergency, call 911.

Stress and burnout counselling in Vancouver for when rest no longer fixes it

Talk to Samuel directly. No receptionist, no intake forms. Call 604-721-0604 · Text what is going on · Book a free 20-minute call. In-person in downtown Vancouver or by video across BC; evenings available.

Work stress responds to structured help, and the type of help matters

A meta-analysis of 36 experimental studies of workplace stress programs found “the overall weighted effect size (Cohen’s d) for all studies was 0.526 (95% confidence interval = 0.364, 0.687), a significant medium to large effect” (Richardson & Rothstein, 2008, p. 69). The same review found that “cognitive-behavioral programs consistently produced larger effects than other types of interventions” (Richardson & Rothstein, 2008, p. 69).

When stress has already turned into time off work, the research is more modest but still positive: a review of 30 randomized trials concluded that “there was a small but significant effect of psychological treatments in reducing SA” (sickness absence) and identified “failure to specifically address RTW in the interventions” as an area for improvement (Finnes et al., 2019, p. 273).

What stress and burnout counselling in Vancouver looks like here

Session one. A map of where the load comes from (workload, conflict, caregiving, money, a relationship) and what it is doing to sleep, mood, concentration and health.

The method. Cognitive behavioural work comes first, because it carries the strongest evidence for occupational stress (Richardson & Rothstein, 2008). Where overwork is driven by perfectionism or a need to please, schema therapy and Internal Family Systems are added. If you are already off work, return to work is planned explicitly, since reviewers flagged its absence as a weakness of many programs (Finnes et al., 2019).

Common reasons people come

Exhaustion that a weekend no longer fixes; dreading Monday; irritability at home; poor sleep; a stress leave and anxiety about going back; caregiver fatigue. See also insomnia counselling, anxiety counselling and depression counselling.

Your counsellor

Samuel Ezzatilord, PhD, RCC, CCC, LMCC, is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (BCACC #23405) and Canadian Certified Counsellor with more than 25 years of clinical experience and a doctorate in health sciences. He works in private practice in downtown Vancouver and by secure video across BC.

Frequently asked questions

Does counselling help with work stress?

Yes. Across 36 studies, workplace stress programs produced “a significant medium to large effect” (Richardson & Rothstein, 2008, p. 69).

Which approach works best for stress?

Cognitive behavioural approaches. “Cognitive-behavioral programs consistently produced larger effects than other types of interventions” (Richardson & Rothstein, 2008, p. 69).

Does adding more techniques help?

Not necessarily. The same meta-analysis found that with cognitive-behavioural programs, “if additional treatment components were added the effect was reduced” (Richardson & Rothstein, 2008, p. 69). Focused work tends to beat a long menu.

I’m on stress leave. Can counselling help me get back?

It can help, and return to work should be planned on purpose. Psychological treatments had “a small but significant effect” on sickness absence (Finnes et al., 2019, p. 273), and reviewers noted programs often failed “to specifically address RTW” (p. 273).

Is stress counselling covered by insurance in BC?

Fees and expenses are covered by ICBC, CVAP, FNHA, IFHP, RCMP, VAC, and most other insurers, and direct billing is available. Most extended-health plans reimburse RCC sessions.

Can I do sessions by video or in the evening?

Yes. In person in downtown Vancouver or by secure video across BC, with evening times.

What happens when you call

The first conversation is a free 20-minute phone call with Samuel Ezzatilord, PhD, RCC, CCC, LMCC (RCC #23405). You describe what is going on; he tells you plainly whether what he offers fits and what a first session would involve. Sessions are available in English and Farsi, in person at Suite 1300, 1500 West Georgia St, Vancouver, or by secure video anywhere in BC. Fees and expenses are covered by ICBC, CVAP, FNHA, IFHP, RCMP, VAC, and most other insurers, and direct billing is available.

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Related pages: Stress & burnout FAQs · Workplace stress FAQs · Insomnia · Individual therapy

References

Finnes, A., Enebrink, P., Ghaderi, A., Dahl, J., Nager, A., & Öst, L.-G. (2019). Psychological treatments for return to work in individuals on sickness absence due to common mental disorders or musculoskeletal disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 92(3), 273–293. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-018-1380-x

Richardson, K. M., & Rothstein, H. R. (2008). Effects of occupational stress management intervention programs: A meta-analysis. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 13(1), 69–93. https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.13.1.69