Burnout to Brilliance by Balanceology
Exploring burnout prevention, recovery, and what it means to create sustainable, human ways of working and living.
Hosted by Jayne Morris MCC, the UK’s leading Executive Burnout Coach, founder of Balanceology, and author of Burnout to Brilliance: Strategies for Sustainable Success, the podcast features thoughtful conversations with clinicians, researchers, coaches, and leaders working at the forefront of burnout and wellbeing.
Each episode offers evidence-informed insight and compassionate reflection, moving beyond quick fixes to explore burnout as both a personal and systemic experience, and how recovery can lead not just back to functioning, but forward to clarity, connection, and meaningful success.
Burnout to Brilliance by Balanceology
Season 4:Episode 4 - Narcissism and Burnout: The Hidden Relational Dynamics That Drain Us
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In this episode of the Burnout to Brilliance Podcast by Balanceology, I’m joined by psychotherapist Kathleen Saxton to explore a topic that often sits quietly beneath the surface of burnout, narcissistic relational dynamics. Together, we unpack how these patterns can shape our sense of self, our capacity, and our decision-making in ways that are not always immediately visible, yet can have a profound cumulative impact over time.
This conversation moves beyond the more visible aspects of burnout and into the relational environments that can subtly erode confidence, clarity and self-trust. We explore how individuals can find themselves working harder and harder within dynamics that never quite feel steady or secure, often without fully realising why it feels so difficult to sustain.
What emerges is a deeper understanding of how burnout is not always about workload alone, but about the ongoing internal effort required to navigate inconsistency, manage expectations, and make sense of shifting relational ground.
What we explore in this episode
In this conversation, we explore:
- how narcissistic relational dynamics can show up in both personal and professional contexts
- the “drip, drip, drip” impact of subtle inconsistency and shifting expectations
- why individuals may increase effort even when something doesn’t feel right
- how self-trust can become eroded over time
- the connection between relational dynamics and burnout development
- early signs that something may be unsustainable
Why this matters for burnout
Burnout often develops gradually, shaped by patterns that are difficult to name at first. When relational dynamics require ongoing vigilance, adaptation or over-effort, this can place sustained pressure on the nervous system.
Over time, what begins as coping can become significant depletion.
Bringing awareness to these patterns can open up new pathways for recovery, ones that are rooted not in pushing harder, but in understanding more deeply what our system has really been responding to.
About the guest
Kathleen Saxton is a psychotherapist, corporate mediator and media advisor, as well as a bestselling author and regular contributor to ITV’s This Morning and Stylist. She is the author of My Parent the Peacock, a compassionate and practical guide to understanding, recovering from and healing the impact of narcissistic parenting and early relational wounds.
Listen & subscribe
🎧 Also available on:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
Resources & links
🌐 Kathleen Saxton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleensaxton/
📘 Kathleen’s Book: https://tinyurl.com/3xww949m
Connect with Jayne Morris MCC
The UK’s leading executive burnout coach & author of Burnout to Brilliance
LinkedIn: @jaynemorrisMCC
Burnout to Brilliance on Amazon
Follow Balanceology
LinkedIn: @Balanceology
Website: www.balanceology.uk
About Balanceology
Balanceology is a leading coaching organisation dedicated to preventing workplace burnout and restoring sustainable success. Through talks, workshops, trainings, coaching and retreats, Balanceology supports individuals and organisations to work well, live fully, and thrive.
The Balanceology Certified Burnout Coach CPD Training is ICF accredited and carries 64 CCEUs