Treating career burnout: A psychodynamic existential perspective

Abstract

This article presents an approach for treating career burnout based on a psychodynamic existential perspective. Psychodynamic theory contributes the idea that people choose an occupation that enables them to replicate significant childhood experiences. Existential theory contributes the idea that people attempt to find existential significance through their work. It is suggested that when treating career burnout it is essential to address three questions: Why, psychodynamically, did this person choose this particular career, and how was it expected to provide existential significance? Why does this individual feel a sense of failure in the existential quest, and how is the sense of failure related to burnout? What changes need to take place for this individual to derive a sense of existential significance from work? A case illustration is presented that demonstrates the application of this approach.

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