Career Stress & Burnout Therapy · New York

Career Stress & Burnout Therapy in New York City

I help high-achieving New York professionals recover from career stress and burnout — the exhaustion a vacation doesn’t fix, when you’re still performing but running on empty.
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) offering private, in-person therapy on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, and online across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · New York
Career Stress & Burnout Therapy
At a Glance

Career stress & burnout therapy — scope at a glance

Who it's for
High-achieving professionals (18+)
What it helps with
Burnout · work stress · overwork · career doubt
How I work
Values-based · boundaries · CBT tools
Where I'm licensed
New York (in person + online)
Format
Private, by referral & inquiry
Online Therapy
i. Sound Familiar?

You've set the boundaries. Taken the vacation. You're still exhausted.

The standard advice — self-care, delegate, take time off — hasn’t touched it, because the problem isn’t your time management. It’s deeper. Much of my New York practice is professionals who recognize themselves here:
• You dread Monday before the weekend’s even over — the ‘Sunday scaries’
• Work is bleeding into your relationships; you’re irritable, withdrawn, not fully present
• You overwork to prove yourself, but no amount of achievement makes you feel secure
• You feel trapped — the cost of living in NYC makes changing anything feel impossible
ii. Stress or Burnout?

Stress is feeling overwhelmed. Burnout is feeling empty.

They’re related, but not the same — and the difference matters for how we work. Stress is tied to specific demands and tends to fluctuate; you’re overloaded, but still engaged. Burnout builds when that pressure runs for too long without real recovery — leading to exhaustion, cynicism, and a disconnection from work that once had meaning. Naming which one you’re in is the first step toward addressing it honestly.
iii. How Burnout Shows Up

The signs, before it costs you more.

Burnout rarely announces itself. For high performers it often hides behind still-good work. Patterns worth noticing:

Exhaustion rest won't fix

Depleted in a way that a weekend, a vacation, or a good night’s sleep no longer touches.

Cynicism & detachment

Growing irritability, cynicism, or numbness toward work you used to care about.

Running on fumes

Still performing at a high level while privately feeling like you’re barely holding it together.

Dread & the Sunday scaries

Anxiety about work that starts before the week does, and follows you into your time off.

Achievement stops soothing

No promotion, win, or milestone makes the underlying insecurity quiet down for long.

Stuck & questioning

Fantasizing about quitting with no plan, or drawing a blank when you try to picture what you actually want.
iv. How I Work

Not lower ambition — a more sustainable relationship with it.

The goal isn’t to make you care less or achieve less. It’s to understand what’s actually driving the overwork — the perfectionism, the achievement-tied identity, the ambition fueled by anxiety — and to build boundaries and choices that match your real life. We draw on practical CBT tools for the stress response and, at the center, on acting in accordance with your values rather than running on autopilot. And I’ll say what I’m noticing plainly, because the pattern that burned you out is usually the one you can’t see from inside it.
v. Is This For You?

Who this work is for.

This work is for ambitious, high-functioning professionals who look successful from the outside and feel depleted underneath — in finance, tech, law, medicine, the creative industries, or building something of their own. Much of my practice is visible, high-profile people who need genuine discretion while they figure out a way to keep doing work that matters without it costing them everything. If that’s where you are, we’ll likely be a good fit.
In Their Words

What patients are saying on Zocdoc

5.0 ★★★★★ Based on 12 Zocdoc reviews
★★★★★ Verified

“I have seen Nicole for about 2.5 years. Every single session with her had been very helpful and eye opening.”

BL
BL
★★★★★ Verified

“I have been working with Nicole for what feels like forever. I can't remember a time before Nicole! Meeting with her has become such a grounding place in my week. She's incredibly understanding and open to what you have to say. And at the same time, she is wonderfully straightforward and practical. She's able to bring all my worries, stressors, and insecurities back to reality and help me see what's truly going on. I highly recommend!”

EA
EA
★★★★★ Verified

“Nicole is a fantastic therapist and I can't recommend her highly enough. I've worked with her for over a year now and she's helped me build much better management strategies for the stress of life, health issues, and political uncertainty. Above all, I appreciate Nicole's practicality, and it's probably why I've worked with her so long. She helps me realize what I can and can't control and how to cope with that which is outside my control. She's a great listener and usually each session highlights at least one change in behavior we can try the following week to see how it helps. She also holds me accountable in a loving yet growth oriented way, such as highlighting when I repeat the same actions repeatedly despite talking about change.”

WH
WH
★★★★★ Verified

“Nicole has been my therapist for about a year and a half now, and I feel more capable of confidently dealing with life's stressors and uncertainties as a result. She has a non-judgemental and welcoming approach to therapy that makes it easy to open up to her. I recommend!”

MK
MK
★★★★★ Verified

“I've been working with Nicole for some time now and I can say that she truly cares for her patients. She has given me perspective on situations in my life as well as practices to implement. Overall, I've felt a significant improvement to my quality of life after having worked with her.”

DG
DG
★★★★★ Verified

“Nicole is personable, knowledgeable, kind, and fully invested in her patients. I always feel seen and hear by her, even in the moments where she nudges me to push beyond my perceptions and perceived limitations. Working with her has undoubtedly improved my relationships, my day to day and ultimately my mental well-being.”

SM
SM
★★★★★ Verified

“I have been seeing Nicole for months and have noticed a huge improvement within my life. She is attentive, patient and reassuring. Every session she makes sure I feel comfortable and understood. I highly recommend!”

CS
CS
★★★★★ Verified

“Nicole is an extremely thoughtful, empathetic, and skilled clinician who has helped me through many challenging life experiences. Nicole fosters a safe and supportive environment while also encouraging me to push myself in order to meet my goals.”

MN
MN
★★★★★ Verified

“Nicole is incredibly patient and excels at understanding/accepting multiple truths, even if contradictory while working to find a path forward. Nicole understands how to leave blank space and push when necessary. These are aspects that you would cherish from a great friend. 10/10.”

CK
CK
★★★★★ Verified

“I want to highlight the two years I've spent working with Nicole as my therapist. Nicole is truly exceptional. When I first came to her, I had a clear set of issues I wanted to address. From the beginning, she created a safe space where I could be vulnerable. What sets Nicole apart is her dedication. She didn't just listen — she went above and beyond every week, researching anything she felt she could deepen her understanding of. Nicole is deeply well-versed in a range of topics and therapeutic approaches. She views every challenge as an opportunity to grow, which, in turn, helped me grow and tackle the issues I was facing.”

BP
BP
★★★★★ Verified

“After my first therapist at this practice moved on, I started seeing Nicole on a weekly basis. I appreciate how authentic and honest she is while listening and helping me process the different topics I bring to our weekly sessions. She helps me understand different aspects of my life by pushing me to think beyond the surface and go deeper into my own understanding of self.”

CG
CG
nicole
Your Therapist

Nicole Trister, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · New York
I’m a New York psychotherapist offering concierge individual and couples therapy for high-functioning, high-profile clients. My work is values-based and grounded in practical, evidence-based tools including CBT and DBT. As a former competitive gymnast and a lifelong runner, I understand first-hand the pull of high performance — and that having it together doesn’t mean not needing help. I’m willing to hold up an honest mirror, which is why my clients tend to stay with me for years.
My credentials & focus: LCSW (New York) · Career stress & burnout · anxiety & perfectionism · individual & couples therapy · CBT · DBT · values-based work · In person at 276 Fifth Avenue, New York, and online across NY, NJ & CT.
Connect
vii. · Questions

Career stress & burnout therapy in New York — FAQ

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If the exhaustion has stopped lifting, let's talk.

Consultations are held privately and by inquiry.