2 min read
Burnout at Work? What to Know Before You Ask for Help
Why so many burned-out employees never ask for support — and what's actually available to you, whether or not your workplace offers it.
Today we had the chance to talk with Tina Marie Heinrich, a chartered HR professional with over 15 years in human resources who is also completing a Master's in Counselling Psychology. That combination — HR and clinical — gave us a rare, two-sided view of burnout: what's actually happening for employees, and what employers can (and can't) do about it.
Key takeaways
- Burnout is common, and rarely reported. Recent Canadian workplace research has found a large share of employees experiencing burnout — yet only a fraction ever tell their employer, often out of fear it could affect their job.
- You don't have to share a diagnosis to get support. Employers generally only need to know what accommodation might help, not clinical details. You're allowed to ask what your workplace's process looks like without disclosing more than you're comfortable with.
- Employee assistance programs are usually free and confidential. If your workplace offers one, it typically includes short-term counselling at no cost, and usage isn't reported back to your employer individually — only as an overall usage rate.
- A trusted conversation can be a first step, not a formal process. You don't have to go straight to HR or a formal complaint. Starting with a manager or colleague you trust, or simply asking what support exists, is a reasonable first move.
- Burnout support isn't limited to your current job. Thinking about whether a role or industry is sustainable for you long-term is a legitimate thing to bring to counselling — not just coping with today's stress.
Whether or not your workplace has a program in place, you don't have to navigate burnout alone or wait for your employer to offer support. Free Counselling Society Canada provides confidential one-on-one counselling to anyone in Canada, workplace-related or not.
100% free · up to 12 sessions · we reach out within 5 days
Related: Burnout & Work Stress · See all conditions
Counselling FAQs
Your questions, answered.
Everything people usually ask us before their first session — in plain words.
Yes — every session, completely free. Our volunteers are never permitted to charge you anything: no fees, no “reduced rates”, no admin costs. It’s our founding mandate. If anyone ever asks you for payment, please tell us right away at TeamLead@FreeCounsellingCanada.ca.
Everyone in Canada. We see individuals, couples, and families of all backgrounds, political affiliations, genders, and sexual orientations. Our counsellors are trained to support every life stage — from children all the way through to seniors. We are feminist, antiracist, and LGBTQ+ allies.
A qualified volunteer counsellor. Every one of our volunteers is a Registered Psychotherapist (or Qualifying), a Practicum Student Intern, a Registered Clinical Counsellor, a Canadian Certified Counsellor, or a Registered Social Worker. All are interviewed, insured, hold a recent vulnerable‑sector police check, practice under their province’s professional regulations, and receive weekly clinical supervision — so the care you get is held to professional standards.
We offer counselling in 16+ languages. Our most‑requested include Farsi/Persian, Spanish, Punjabi, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi, Arabic, French, and Tagalog/Filipino — among many others. Tell us your preferred language on the request form and we’ll do our best to match you with a counsellor who speaks it.
We reach out within 5 days of your request. Once you’re matched, your counsellor phones you within 3 business days to arrange your first session — so keep an eye out for a call from a number you don’t recognize.
Up to 12 free sessions with your counsellor. You set the pace together — weekly or biweekly is common at first. If you need fewer, that’s completely fine too.
Most sessions happen by phone or video call — whichever feels more comfortable to you. We also offer free in‑person counselling at 30 Powerhouse St, Toronto ON and 445 Mountain Hwy, North Vancouver BC; just choose it on the request form.
Yes. Your information travels only over PIPEDA‑compliant email, and you only ever share what you’re comfortable sharing. Like all counselling in Canada, there are a few legal limits — such as an immediate risk of harm to you or someone else — and your counsellor will walk you through these in your first session.
That’s okay — a good fit matters. Email TeamLead@FreeCounsellingCanada.ca and we’ll arrange a re‑assignment, no questions asked.
No. Anyone in Canada can request counselling — no doctor’s referral, no diagnosis, no insurance, no health card needed. If you’re here and you’d like someone to talk to, that’s reason enough.