Recognise yourself ?

​​​If this sounds familiar...
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These patterns are common among the professionals I work with. In fact, many of the qualities that help people succeed — conscientiousness, responsibility, high standards — can also contribute to stress when they become difficult to switch off.
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Why these patterns can be so hard to change
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Stress, perfectionism, self-criticism and overthinking can become part of a vicious circle. The more often we respond to pressure in particular ways — over-preparing, checking, worrying, pushing ourselves harder or dwelling on mistakes — the more practised and automatic those responses become.​
These habits may help us feel safer or more in control in the short term, but over time they can reinforce the very stress and self-doubt we're trying to escape.
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Breaking the cycle means learning to recognise these patterns and repeatedly practising more helpful ways of thinking, responding and behaving — until those begin to become the new normal.

You put enormous pressure on yourself to get things right
Doing a good job matters to you. But perhaps “good enough” rarely feels good enough anymore. You can spend unnecessary time preparing, checking or refining things because the fear of making a mistake weighs heavy.

You can be much harder on yourself than you are on other people
You may readily understand somebody else's mistake or difficult day, while judging yourself by a completely different standard. Achievements are quickly discounted, while perceived shortcomings can stay with you.

Rest doesn't always feel comfortable
Even when there is nothing you have to do, slowing down can bring guilt or a nagging sense that you ought to be doing something useful. Being productive may have become so closely linked with feeling worthwhile that genuine downtime is surprisingly difficult.

You've started adapting your behaviour to manage the anxiety
Perhaps you check more, prepare more, work longer, avoid difficult conversations, procrastinate over things that feel important or seek reassurance before trusting your own judgement. These strategies can bring short-term relief — while quietly keeping the underlying problem going.

You find uncertainty difficult to leave alone
When you don't know how something will turn out, your mind wants an answer. Repeatedly revisiting decisions, looking for reassurance or mentally running through different possibilities in an attempt to feel certain. It's exhausting.

You feel responsible for keeping everything going
You're dependable — perhaps too dependable. Saying no can feel uncomfortable, asking for help doesn't come naturally, and other people's needs or expectations can easily take priority over your own.

Your confidence has become increasingly dependent on how things are going
Praise, a successful piece of work or reassurance can make you feel better temporarily. But criticism, an ambiguous email, or a mistake can quickly knock that confidence. Imposter syndrome is never far away.

The person other people see may not match how you feel inside
Colleagues may see someone competent, conscientious and in control. They may have little idea how much mental effort is going into maintaining that appearance — or how depleted you can feel by the end of the day.

So, imagine instead...
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Finishing work without continuing it in your head all night
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Making decisions without endlessly second-guessing yourself
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Handling mistakes without your inner critic taking over
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Feeling genuinely confident rather than simply faking it​​
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Having the mental bandwidth for a life outside work
It's often the most dedicated, high-achieving people that burn out.
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The aim isn't to turn you into someone who cares less. It's to help you keep the qualities that serve you, while changing the patterns that don't.
What we'll work on

The five steps build on each other across the 10-week programme. You'll learn not just why stress, overthinking, perfectionism and self-doubt can become so persistent, but practical psychological strategies to help you respond differently. The emphasis throughout is on turning understanding into practical skills and long-term change that you can use everyday - in and out of work.
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This is the training that everyone needs alongside their study and career training - but that no-one ever gets. This is about making your brain work smarter for you.​​​​​​​​​​​​

1. CALM — Understand and settle the stress response Understand the stress response and the factors involved in burnout. When your nervous system is repeatedly operating in threat mode, thinking clearly and responding differently becomes much harder. You'll learn practical, brain-based ways to recognise and regulate your stress response. This will help you respond more effectively when pressure builds, supporting you whilst laying the foundations for the longer-term changes that follow.
2. QUIETEN — Change your relationship with your inner critic That relentless internal commentary can drive anxiety, perfectionism and the feeling that you're never doing quite enough. We'll explore where self-critical thinking comes from, how it keeps stress going, and develop more helpful ways of responding to yourself — without lowering your standards or losing your motivation.
3. CHANGE — Break the patterns that keep you stuck Overchecking, procrastinating, people-pleasing, difficulty saying no, seeking reassurance or trying to eliminate uncertainty can make sense in the moment — but can also reinforce stress and low confidence. You'll learn to recognise your own patterns and unhelpful beliefs and practise different behaviours that support both wellbeing and effective performance.
4. SWITCH OFF — Stop work following you home Being physically away from work doesn't necessarily mean you've mentally left it. We'll work on overthinking, rumination and the beliefs and habits that make it difficult to disengage. This will help you to distinguish between helpful and unhelpful thought processes, creating a healthier psychological boundary between your working life and the rest of your life.
5. THRIVE — Make the changes last. The aim isn't simply to feel better for ten weeks. You'll identify what works for you, consolidate your new skills and finish with a personalised plan for maintaining progress — so you're better equipped to manage future pressure without slipping automatically back into old patterns.
Exactly what you'll get
Digital resources​
Weekly bite-sized, evidence-based material, exercises, quizzes, and downloadable resources to help you translate psychological understanding into everyday change. Designed to allow you to work through flexibly, alongside a demanding professional life.
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But you won't be alone...
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3 hours of private one-to-one support with me
This time with an experienced Chartered Psychologist allows us to tailor the experience to you personally. We'll work on understanding the root causes of your difficulties, and your unhelpful patterns and beliefs - so you get the most possible from your time investment and learning.
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Session 1: Understanding your individual patterns and establishing goals
Session 2: Review progress, troubleshoot, personalise and motivate
Session 3: Consolidate change; your future plan
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Minimum 10 x weekly live small group Q & A sessions
Bring questions, troubleshoot difficulties, get expert guidance, join a like-minded community, and stay motivated. (Attendance optional, to remain flexible around a full life.)
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Your sustainable future plan
A written, personalised 'blueprint' for how you maintain progress once the programme has ended.​​
A programme built from experience — not off the shelf
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Uptrained Brain brings together psychological research, more than 25 years of professional experience, what I've learned helping clients make lasting changes, my background in online teaching — and my own experience of burnout.
Why work with me?

Dr Jill Williams, PhD, AFBPsS, C.Psychol, MBACP
Psychologist & Burnout Coach
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Your guarantee of expert, ethical service.
Find out more About Me, or check out my Ultimate Guide to Burnout blogs.
​​​Psychology is my passion and profession.
Burnout became personal.
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I’ve spent more than 25 years working in psychology. First in research, lecturing and student support, later in helping people understand the thoughts and behaviours that influence how they feel and behave.
I’m a Chartered Psychologist and Registered Counsellor, so Uptrained Brain is grounded in established psychological knowledge rather than generic wellbeing advice or motivational coaching.
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But my understanding of burnout isn't purely professional - I have my own personal story of burnout and recovery.
I know how confusing, isolating, physically and emotionally devastating it can feel - despite appearing 'fine' to my colleagues. That experience changed not only how I understood burnout, but how I worked with it.​





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