You love your kids. You're also completely depleted.
And those two things can be true at the same time.
You're doing everything; the scheduling, the emotional labour, the mental load, the invisible work that never makes it onto anyone's to-do list but yours. You show up for everyone, every day. And somewhere along the way, you stopped showing up for yourself.This isn't a motivation problem. It isn't a gratitude problem. It isn't something a bubble bath or a girls' night will fix. This is mom burnout. And it's real.
Marlo Drago Therapy in Ontario
Mom burnout is what happens when the chronic stress of caregiving, household management, emotional labour, and invisible work pushes your nervous system past its capacity.
Unlike everyday tiredness, burnout doesn't go away with a good night's sleep. It lives deeper than that — in your body, your nervous system, your sense of self.
For many moms, this is layered with unhealed childhood wounds that come out front and center when we become parents.
You might be experiencing mom burnout if you:
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Feel exhausted even after sleeping
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Snap at your kids and then spiral in guilt
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Can't remember the last time you felt like you
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Fantasize about getting sick just to have an excuse to rest
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Feel like you're going through the motions — present in body, absent everywhere else
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Resent your partner, your kids, or your life — and feel terrible about it
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Can't stop, can't slow down, but also can't keep going
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Feel invisible, underappreciated, and utterly alone in it
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Have lost your sense of identity outside of being "mom"
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Cry in the car, the shower, or anywhere no one can see you
Your not failing, Your nervous system is overwhelmed.
When we're chronically stressed, especially when that stress is layered on top of old wounds, childhood patterns, or a lifetime of putting everyone else first — our nervous system doesn't get a chance to reset.
We get stuck in survival mode. Always on. Always vigilant. Always one thing away from the edge. That's a system that was never designed to carry this much, alone, for this long. Therapy can help you understand what's happening in your body, process what's underneath it, and rebuild a relationship with yourself that doesn't require you to earn rest.
I Can Help With:
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Maternal burnout & chronic exhaustion
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Mom guilt & relentless self-criticism
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Anxiety & emotional overwhelm
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Losing yourself in motherhood
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Resentment in relationships & invisible load
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Difficulty setting boundaries or asking for help
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Childhood trauma showing up in your parenting
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Intergenerational patterns you don't want to pass on
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Postpartum anxiety & birth trauma
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Identity loss & rediscovering who you are outside of "mom"
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Nervous system dysregulation — always on edge, always on call
What You Might Notice Over Time
Healing from mom burnout isn't about becoming a different person. It's about coming back to yourself.
With time and support, you might notice:
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More patience
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The ability to actually rest without guilt
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Clearer boundaries that feel grounded, not aggressive
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Less guilt, more self-compassion
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A nervous system that isn't constantly in overdrive
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Reconnection with who you are outside of caregiving
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Feeling present with your kids instead of just physically there
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Less anger and resentment
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Reduction of activation of previous traumas to present moments
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How Therapy Can Help
Therapy for mom burnout goes beyond coping strategies.
Here's how it actually helps:
It gets to the root. Burnout isn't just tiredness — it's often a nervous system stuck in survival mode, sometimes for years. Therapy addresses what's driving the depletion, not just the surface symptoms.
It processes what's underneath. For many moms, burnout is layered on top of unresolved trauma, childhood wounds, or deeply ingrained patterns of self-abandonment. EMDR and somatic therapy reach those layers directly.
It rebuilds your relationship with yourself. Therapy helps you reconnect with who you are outside of being a mother — your needs, your wants, your worth.
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It regulates your nervous system. Using Polyvagal-informed approaches and somatic work, we help your body and brain learn that it's actually safe to come down from high alert.
It gives you a space that is entirely yours. No one needs anything from you here. No managing, no performing, no holding it together. Just you — as you actually are.
Frequently Asked Questions
I don't have time for therapy. I can barely get through the day.
I hear this a lot — and it makes complete sense. Virtual therapy means no commute, no parking, no childcare scramble. You can join from your car, your bedroom, or wherever you can steal 50 minutes. The hardest part is usually just deciding you're worth it.
Is this just for moms with young kids?
Not at all. Mom burnout affects mothers at every stage — new moms, moms of toddlers, moms of teenagers, empty nesters who've spent decades in caretaking mode. If motherhood has cost you yourself, this work is for you.
What if my burnout is connected to my own childhood?
It often is. Many moms find that the overwhelm of parenting activates their own unresolved wounds — people-pleasing patterns, difficulty receiving help, emotional dysregulation rooted in early experiences. We can work with all of it.
Do I need a diagnosis to come to therapy?
No. You don't need to be in crisis. Feeling depleted, lost, or like you've stopped recognizing yourself is enough of a reason.Will you judge me for how I'm feeling about my kids or my life? Never. This is one of the most judgment-free spaces you'll find. The hard, ugly, complicated feelings are welcome here — that's exactly what we're here to work through.
Why Work with Marlo Drago
About Me
Marlo Drago
Founder and Therapist
​I'm Marlo Drago, a Registered Social Worker (RSW) and trauma-informed therapist based in Toronto, Ontario, offering individual therapy for adults navigating anxiety, trauma, burnout, emotional overwhelm, and complex PTSD. My approach draws on evidence-based modalities including EMDR therapy, somatic therapy, Polyvagal Theory, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and bottom-up trauma treatment — combined with something I believe is just as important: genuine human connection.
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But beyond the credentials and clinical approaches, I bring something personal. I am a mom of 2 kids under 3. I am a wife. I too am tired, overwhelmed and sometimes react rather than respond.
I've walked through my own healing journey, and I know what it feels like to sit where you're sitting. That lived understanding shapes everything about how I work; the warmth in the room, the pace we move at, and the deep belief I hold that real change is possible for you.
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Because how therapy feels matters just as much as what we do in it and you deserve both.
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Here, you are free to feel all of it. There might be swearing, laughing, crying, or something you can't quite name yet. All of it is welcome. No judgment, no rushing, no performing okayness for your therapist.
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We go at your pace. We pull back when things feel like too much, and move forward when your nervous system has the capacity to do so. You are always in the driver's seat.​
How to start EMDR Therapy with Marlo Drago Therapy
I know the first step is usually the hardest and you are probably buzzing with questions. Head over to FAQ, if the answer is not there send me an e-mail and I would be happy to help! Ready to book an initial call or intake session? Fill out the form below.
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