When the fire burns low,
you deserve time to recover.
When you have been giving so much for so long, it can become difficult to recognise what you need yourself.
I'm Gary Smith, a psychotherapist and clinical hypnotherapist based in Swindon. We can explore the pressures behind your exhaustion, practical ways forward and the support that is right for you.
In-person Swindon · Enquiries from around 50 miles · Suitable online appointments throughout the UK
You can care deeply about what you do and still feel completely depleted.
Sometimes the hardest part is realising that carrying on as usual is no longer working.
Perhaps your concentration has slipped, your patience is thinner than it used to be, or days off no longer feel restorative. You may be managing a demanding job, caring responsibilities, family pressure or several difficult changes at once.
The World Health Organization uses burnout specifically for the effects of chronic workplace stress. Emotional exhaustion can also occur beyond work, and persistent fatigue can have medical or mental health causes. We take your individual circumstances seriously rather than assuming every symptom has one explanation.
Support can begin with understanding the pressure you are under, considering what can change, and identifying where further assessment or other practical help may be useful.
When ordinary days start asking too much.
These experiences can accompany prolonged stress or exhaustion. They are not a diagnosis, and other explanations should be considered.
Emotional exhaustion
Feeling drained, overwhelmed or as though there is little left to give by the end of the day.
Brain fog and concentration
Losing your train of thought, finding decisions harder or struggling with tasks that used to feel straightforward.
Irritability and tension
Being more easily frustrated, impatient or sensitive to demands and interruptions.
Withdrawal or disconnection
Having less interest in social plans, feeling detached at work or wanting to retreat from conversations.
Sleep and worry
Finding it difficult to unwind, waking unrefreshed or thinking about unfinished responsibilities late at night.
Life with little space
Saying yes automatically, finding boundaries difficult or feeling that every moment belongs to somebody else.
When to seek medical advice: NHS guidance recommends contacting your GP for unexplained tiredness lasting a few weeks, fatigue affecting daily life or other concerning symptoms. A therapist cannot diagnose the cause of ongoing physical exhaustion.
A calmer way to respond, one manageable change at a time.
My practice centres on Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapy and NLP, with suitable CBT-informed strategies and a collaborative approach.
Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapy
We explore what a better everyday life might look like, recognise strengths you already have, and use guided relaxation or imagery where appropriate. The emphasis is on practical, personally meaningful progress.
NLP and helpful perspectives
NLP techniques may be used to explore patterns of thinking, language, self-expectations and imagined responses to challenging situations. They are offered as optional tools, with their suitability and limitations discussed openly.
CBT-informed practical strategies
We may consider unhelpful thinking habits, achievable boundaries, pacing, problem-solving and ways to respond to pressure. These elements complement the main approach and do not replace specialist CBT when that is indicated.
We will talk about the whole picture. Rest and relaxation may be useful, but workplace pressures, workload, caring commitments and health concerns may need practical changes or additional help too.
The demands on your time matter just as much as the thoughts in your mind.
Support should recognise both how you feel and the situation you are living in.
For some people, strain comes from deadlines and constant availability. For others, it comes from caring for family, a period of illness, financial pressure or several responsibilities competing for attention.
We can explore the differences between what can change now, what needs support from others, and what deserves a longer-term plan. Examples might include communicating your limits, discussing workload adjustments, building restorative routines or asking for help.
These changes are not about becoming endlessly productive. They are about creating a more sustainable relationship with work, responsibilities and your own wellbeing.
A useful plan starts with understanding the cause.
Exhaustion is a real experience, but not every exhausted person is experiencing workplace burnout.
The NHS explains that ongoing stress can affect concentration, mood, sleep and behaviour. It also advises medical assessment for unexplained or persistent fatigue because other conditions can sometimes produce similar symptoms.
For work-related burnout, support may include reducing sources of stress, changing working arrangements, accessing talking therapies, improving recovery time and seeking occupational-health advice. Hypnotherapy, NLP and CBT-informed tools can be discussed as part of your individual wellbeing support, without promises of a fixed recovery time.
You can read independent information from the NHS work-related stress guide, NHS fatigue guidance and the WHO explanation of burnout.
You do not have to decide everything today.
An unhurried process, with choice and collaboration at each stage.
Begin with a free conversation
Tell me what you are experiencing and what you would like to change. Ask questions and consider whether the service feels right for you.
Explore a suitable approach
We can discuss hypnotherapy, NLP, practical CBT-informed tools, existing health support and any concerns that may need further assessment.
Review what is useful
If you choose to continue, we'll set relevant goals, notice changes and review whether our work is helping. You remain in control of decisions.
Hello, I'm Gary.
A Swindon-based psychotherapist, clinical hypnotherapist, lecturer and clinical supervisor.
I take a warm, practical and non-judgemental approach. My aim is for you to feel heard and involved as we consider useful ways forward, without pressure to meet somebody else's timetable.
Alongside my client work, I teach and supervise other hypnotherapists. This informs the importance I place on professional boundaries, discussing alternatives and knowing when additional care may be appropriate.
You can meet me at my Swindon practice or online throughout the UK where an online appointment is suitable.
Burnout and exhaustion support from Swindon to wherever you are.
One physical practice in Swindon, with online appointments available throughout the United Kingdom where appropriate.
In person · Swindon and approximately 50 miles
My practice is based on Northbourne Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN25 4YE. I welcome enquiries from around the local 50-mile area, including Cirencester, Royal Wootton Bassett, Marlborough, Chippenham, Devizes, Stroud, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Bath, Bristol, Oxford and nearby communities.
Appointments take place in Swindon by arrangement; the listed towns are not additional clinics.
Online · across the United Kingdom
Where suitable, individual online consultations are available in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Sessions take place by an agreed private video platform.
We can discuss confidentiality, practical arrangements, and whether online work or another form of support suits your circumstances before you book paid sessions.
Contact Best Mind Therapy for details and directions.
Other pages that may be useful.
Burnout and exhaustion can overlap with sleep problems, worry, confidence and wider wellbeing concerns.
Helpful answers, without unnecessary pressure.
You are welcome to ask anything about the approach during your free initial consultation.
What is burnout, and how is it different from everyday tiredness?
Burnout is a term used for difficulties associated with prolonged workplace stress, including exhaustion, feeling detached or cynical about work, and reduced effectiveness. Tiredness and emotional exhaustion can also have other causes, including health conditions. We can explore what is happening without assuming a diagnosis.
Can hypnotherapy help me manage stress and exhaustion?
Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapy can offer a supportive space to practise relaxation, explore helpful perspectives and develop ways of responding to pressure. We discuss your circumstances, suitability and goals; results vary, and hypnotherapy is not a replacement for medical assessment or changes needed in your working environment.
Do you use NLP and CBT-informed techniques?
Yes. Where appropriate and agreed, sessions can incorporate NLP techniques, guided imagery and CBT-informed strategies such as identifying unhelpful thinking patterns, planning manageable steps and practising boundaries. The approach is individual rather than a fixed programme.
How many sessions will I need?
There is no reliable number that suits everyone. We start with a free consultation, consider what support may be useful and review progress together. You can decide whether to continue at each stage.
Is burnout the same as depression?
Not necessarily. The World Health Organization describes burnout as an occupational phenomenon rather than a medical diagnosis. Low mood, loss of interest and fatigue can also occur with depression or other conditions. If symptoms persist or concern you, speak to your GP for assessment.
Can I keep working while seeking support?
That depends on your health, responsibilities and circumstances. We can explore boundaries and practical changes, but decisions about sick leave or fitness for work should be discussed with your GP and, where relevant, your employer or occupational health team.
Do you support carers, teachers and healthcare professionals?
Yes. People with demanding caring or professional responsibilities are welcome to explore stress, emotional exhaustion, work-life boundaries and self-care. We will consider your situation individually and discuss other resources where useful.
Can we meet online if I live outside Wiltshire?
Yes. Online appointments are offered throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland when suitable. In-person sessions take place at the Swindon practice, with enquiries welcomed from approximately 50 miles around Swindon.
What does the initial consultation cost?
Your initial consultation is free and without obligation. Standard individual sessions are listed at £75. Current package and eligible concessionary fees are available on the Best Mind Therapy fees page and can be confirmed before booking.
You deserve support, not another demand on your energy.
If you would like to explore what might make life feel more manageable, we can begin with a free, no-obligation conversation.
We'll discuss your goals, how I work and which options are appropriate. You're free to ask questions without committing to further sessions.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999. For urgent mental health support in England, contact NHS 111. Samaritans are available on 116 123 throughout the UK.