I'm a therapist for tech workers in Silicon Valley. There's a specific type of person who burns out — here's how I treat them.

Nick Sanchez is a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Silicon Valley who specializes in helping high-performing tech professionals manage burnout. According to Sanchez, 99% of his clients cite burnout as one of their biggest problems. He sees a weekly caseload of 18 to 20 clients, most of whom are business owners, executives, founders, and managers within the tech industry.

One new phenomenon Sanchez has encountered in his clients is "AI burnout," which arises from the constant demands of artificial intelligence technology.

Sanchez explains that AI burnout occurs when people feel pressured to work longer hours and take on more projects than they can realistically handle. Unlike simple advice to work less, Sanchez uses exposure therapy techniques to help his clients gradually manage burnout and develop self-care routines. He describes burnout as a type of low-grade depression that can make previously enjoyable activities feel unfulfilling and cause a decrease in motivation and productivity.

Rather than telling his clients to take extended breaks from work, Sanchez employs exposure therapy to help them build the self-discipline to take shorter breaks and engage in activities that promote well-being. For instance, he might suggest a 15-minute walk or a lunch break spent watching an entertaining video. As clients experience the benefits of these breaks, they are more likely to adopt a customized self-care routine that helps them avoid burnout in the long run.

Sanchez has also found that AI has become a valuable tool in therapy, allowing clients to generate journal prompts or breathing exercises that they can use to work through their issues. This has enabled him to have more in-depth, human-level conversations with his clients, further aiding their recovery from burnout.