Teacher burnout coaching
You used to love teaching. Now you're just trying to make it to the holidays.
Online, one-to-one burnout recovery coaching for teachers who have given too much for too long. From a former teacher who burned out herself, and found her way back.
- Award-winning coach
- Former teacher, SENCo and safeguarding lead
- Recovered from burnout herself
- Online, wherever you teach
Does this sound like you?
None of this means you're a bad teacher.
It means you've been giving more than anyone could keep giving.
Not sure if it's burnout?
Take the free burnout risk assessment. In five minutes, you'll see which parts of your job are putting you under the most pressure.
Why teacher burnout is different
The World Health Organization describes burnout as the result of chronic workplace stress that hasn't been successfully managed. In teaching, that stress comes from places most other jobs don't have.
The work never ends
There is always another lesson to plan, another book to mark or another email to answer. You never get to the bottom of the list.
Constant scrutiny
Observations, data, book looks, parents and inspections. It can feel like you're always being judged.
Caring all day
Behaviour, safeguarding and children's worries. You carry other people's needs home with you every night.
The guilt
Putting yourself first feels selfish when children depend on you, so you keep going until you can't.
"But you get all those holidays"
People outside teaching don't see it, so you stop talking about how you really feel.
Losing who you are
After years of being "Miss" or "Sir", it's hard to remember who you are outside school.
Burnout in teaching isn't a sign you were never cut out for it.
It's a sign of a system asking too much.
How teacher burnout coaching works: Survive, Rebuild, Thrive
Recovery isn't a straight line, but it is possible. My approach combines coaching and NLP in three gentle stages, at a pace that works around school.
Survive
Get through the term without running yourself into the ground. We find what's draining you most, and the first small changes that make the school week feel manageable.
Rebuild
Reconnect with who you are beyond being a teacher. We rebuild your confidence and set boundaries around marking, emails and your evenings.
Thrive
Decide what comes next with a clear head. Teach differently, move to a new role in education, or leave teaching for something new.
Stay, change or leave?
Burnout recovery isn't about pushing you out of teaching. You don't have to decide anything yet. When you're ready, there are three paths, and none of them is wrong.
Teach differently
Firmer boundaries, a change in hours or responsibilities, or a school that suits you better. Many teachers recover and fall back in love with the job.
A new role in education
Pastoral, SEND, tutoring, training or working for an education organisation. Your skills and values, without the parts that broke you.
A career beyond the classroom
If it's time to go, I can support that too, without you starting from scratch. Career coaching for teachers
Whatever you choose, you'll decide from a place of clarity, not exhaustion.
I've stood where you're standing
I spent nearly 20 years in education, leading careers in an inner-city school and later working as a SENCo and designated safeguarding lead. I loved the people, but burnout crept up on me slowly, until I couldn't ignore it any longer.
I remember sitting on the north coast of Scotland, watching seals, on leave I'd booked months before. The work messages kept coming anyway. That was the moment I knew something had to change.
"Piece by piece, with rest, boundaries, reflection and support, I began rebuilding a version of me."
Burnout changed my life, but it also led me here, to helping teachers recover. I know how heavy it feels, and I know there is a way back.
Read my storyWhat teachers say
"From the very first session, I felt truly heard and understood… Kelly supports the whole person, and that makes all the difference."
"For the first time in years, I felt able to imagine a career that fit who I am and the life I want. I now have a job that finally aligns with my values and wellbeing."
Teacher burnout coaching with me
Six one-to-one coaching sessions
£945
- Six online sessions on Zoom, working through Survive, Rebuild and Thrive
- A personalised recovery plan built around school, your life and your energy levels
- Practical tools for boundaries, rest and managing the pressure of the job
- Support between sessions by email or WhatsApp
Not a teacher? See burnout recovery coaching for professionals
Questions teachers ask me about burnout
Is it burnout, or just a hard term?
Every teacher has hard weeks. Burnout is different. It doesn't lift when the holidays come, it leaves you feeling detached from work you used to care about, and it makes you doubt whether you're any good at your job. If you're not sure, the free burnout risk assessment is a good place to start.
Can I have coaching while I'm still teaching full time?
Yes, and most of the teachers I work with do. We go at a pace that works for you, and the first focus is making the school week feel more manageable, not adding to your to-do list.
Can I have coaching while I'm signed off with stress?
Often, yes. Many teachers find it helpful to use time off to understand what happened and plan their return or next step. If you're under the care of a doctor, it's a good idea to check with them first.
Do I have to leave teaching to recover?
No. Some teachers recover and stay, with firmer boundaries, a different role or a different school. Others realise it's time to leave. Coaching helps you work out which is right for you, without pressure either way.
Will my school know I'm having coaching?
No. Coaching is private, between you and me. Your school won't know unless you choose to tell them.
Is burnout coaching the same as therapy?
No. Coaching is forward-focused and practical. It helps you understand what led to burnout, rebuild your energy and boundaries, and decide what comes next. It isn't medical or mental health treatment. If you're experiencing depression, anxiety or other mental health difficulties, please speak to your GP, and coaching can sit alongside that support.
When do I need to hand in my notice as a teacher?
For most teachers in England and Wales on standard terms, the resignation deadlines are 31 October to leave at the end of December, the last day of February to leave at the end of April, and 31 May to leave at the end of August. Always check your own contract, as academies and independent schools can differ.
Do you only work with teachers in the UK?
No. All sessions are on Zoom, so I work with teachers wherever they are in the world.
If you need more than coaching
Coaching isn't a substitute for medical or mental health care. If you're struggling to cope, please contact your doctor. If you're in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, please get help straight away.
- Emergency: call 999
- Urgent medical advice: call NHS 111
- Samaritans: call 116 123, free, any time, day or night
You don't have to wait for the holidays to feel like yourself again
Book a free 30-minute call with me, a former teacher, not a sales team. We'll talk about how you're feeling, what you need, and whether coaching is the right support for you right now.
Book your free discovery call