Coaching practices for Problem Solving Therapy When Burned Out

Describe almost anything you are working through and IX Coach finds the practices whose real-world fit is closest. For Problem Solving Therapy When Burned Out, these are the strongest matches in the current practice library.

Does this sound like the set of challenges you might be facing?

  • I burn enormous energy trying to fix things that aren’t mine to fix, and then go quiet and just stew over the things I actually could do something about
  • I’m too wound up to think straight about this
  • Every blow-up hits me like a brand-new emergency and I’m just putting out fires all day
  • I’ve got maybe two ideas for what to do about this and both feel hopeless, so I shoot every other thought down before I even finish it
  • I finally tried something and it only half-worked, and my whole brain went "see, nothing I do ever works"

Practices that may help

  1. Match coping mode to what is actually controllable
    Use problem-focused coping when you can change the situation; emotion-focused coping when you cannot.
    Stress Inoculation Training
  2. Manage emotional arousal before and during problem solving
    Use a brief calming strategy when emotions are too high to solve problems effectively.
    Problem-Solving Therapy, Made Practical
  3. Maintain an unsolved problems list
    Write down recurring triggers so they become solvable problems rather than repeated emergencies.
    Collaborative Problem Solving (Ross Greene)
  4. Generate solutions without premature evaluation
    List as many potential solutions as possible before judging any of them.
    Problem-Solving Therapy, Made Practical
  5. Evaluate the outcome and adjust
    After implementing, honestly assess what worked, what didn’t, and what to do next.
    Problem-Solving Therapy, Made Practical
  6. Coping Questions
    When things seem terrible, ask how the person is managing at all — acknowledging and excavating their resilience.
    Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: Building On What Works
  7. Problem-Solving Therapy, Made Practical
    Problem-Solving Therapy (PST), developed by Nezu and D’Zurilla, treats depression and anxiety by building structured, step-by-step problem-solving skills — targeting the learned helplessness and avoidance that occur when people face stressful life problems without an effective coping framework. Multiple randomised trials support PST for depression, especially when linked to real-life problem load.
  8. Evaluate solutions against costs, benefits, and fit
    Rate each solution on likelihood of success, personal costs, and fit with your values.
    Problem-Solving Therapy, Made Practical
  9. Hold Plan B conversations proactively, not reactively
    Solve the problem before the next explosion, when everyone is calm.
    Collaborative Problem Solving (Ross Greene)
  10. ACCEPTS — structured distraction from crisis
    Use Activities, Contributing, Comparisons, Emotions, Pushing away, Thoughts, and Sensations to redirect attention during a crisis.
    Distress Tolerance Skills, Made Practical

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