Applied Psychology

Understanding Burnout Through the Lens of Compassion

Understand how burnout differs from stress and build practical skills to protect, prevent and manage burnout.

R460.00

A middle aged professional women who is struggling with her workload

Structure

On-demand

Duration

3 hours

Total Hours

3 hours

Start Date

1 January 2026

End Date

31 December 2026

Mode

Self-paced learning

Workshop Introduction

Burnout is a common reaction to long-term stress from work, school, or life demands. It may begin as something manageable, but it often extends beyond the job, impacting overall wellbeing. Although burnout is not a medical condition, it is recognised as a work-related issue and often leads people to seek medical assistance.

The Understanding Burnout workshop explores how burnout differs from normal stress and chronic stress, on a physiological and psychological level.

Understand burnout as both a clinical and an occupational disease and look at factors that lead to burnout.

There is an increasing prevalence of burnout amongst healthcare workers and individuals in the helping professions. This online workshop positions compassion as an important tool in preventing and managing burnout.

This workshop simplifies complex concepts behind burnout and equips participants with tools, protection methods, and self-compassion in the face of burnout culture.

Overview

Definitions

Clinical burnout
Burnout as an occupational disease
Disease vs Syndrome

Pathophysiology

Stress physiology
Differences seen in burnout

Psychopathology

Stress and psychological effect
Different course observed in burnout

Causes of Burnout

Individual factors
Organisational factors

Phases in the development of burnout

Lack of recovery
Physiological changes
Chronic stress
Reduced motivation

Compassion

The science of compassion
Principles of self-compassion
Practice of compassion and its effect

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the workshop participants will:

Gain awareness around clinical burnout as it is understood in psychology.
Appreciate the shift towards understanding burnout as an environmental / workplace problem and therefore must be seen in totality.
Understand the changes that occur in a person with burnout, including the physiological and psychological changes.
Be able to appreciate the challenges with diagnosis and management of burnout.
Know the phases that a person goes through from a healthy individual to full-blown burnout.
Learn effective ways to prevent and manage burnout.

Learner Experience

Laura Venter

"I have done a few SACAP Global courses, and the material is useful, helpful and very informative. I enjoyed that I could learn online in my own time."

Ndinelao Jameson

"My online learning experience was a great! I could learn at my own pace and enjoyed learning about burnout on a greater scale. I gained insight and learned how to navigate burnout."

Macaylin Govender

"The Understanding Burnout Through the Lens of Compassion workshop was an essential and valuable experience. It provided a solid foundation in understanding what burnout is, how it develops, and effective ways to manage it.

Sanette Carrick

''The burnout workshop was well executed and very informative.''

Aidan Picolo

"I enjoyed the online learning experience and would recommend the burnout workshop."

Natasha Singh

"An interesting and informative course on burnout and compassion. I really enjoyed the presentation and identified many common trends in my own life that can lead to burnout."

Nadine Bailey

"This workshop provided great insight into the dynamics and understanding of what burnout is and how it manifests. Dr Lerato is extremely knowledgeable on the topic. I was really satisfied with the course and learnt a great deal."

Faldiela Isaacs

''Participating in this workshop has been a transformative experience for me. The content is comprehensive and provided me with great insights into recognising, managing, and preventing burnout.''

Musawenkosi Chirwa

"My learning experience has been wonderful. The Understanding Burnout workshop was insightful and easy to understand."

Certification

This CPD workshop has been designed for participants wanting to understand burnout and build skills to prevent and manage burnout. Once you have completed the course, you will receive a digital certificate of completion.

The certificate serves as evidence of your new skills and knowledge and can be used to demonstrate your commitment to professional development.

Attend a live online session, or watch the recording, and complete an online reading and assessment.

HPCSA registered professionals will receive 3 CPD points [3 CEU Continuing Education Units points] upon successful completion of the workshop.

Dates and Registration

Class of 2026: on demand

Participants can register at any time and move through the workshop content. Watch the live workshop recording and complete the online journal articles and multiple-choice questionnaire.

NOTE: HPCSA registered professionals who want to claim 3 CPD points [3 CEU Continuing Education Units points] need to complete the online assessment within 5 days after registering.

Workshop Presenter

Dr. Lerato Motshudi completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology and physiology and a medical degree through the University of Pretoria. She practised as a medical doctor in the public sector, mines and the military before joining Alexander Forbes as the Head of corporate wellness. Lerato is now the Medical Manager at Netcare Akeso, supporting their 14 mental health facilities.

Course highlights

Burned out youth feeling stressed and overwhelmed with her workload

Understand factors that lead to burnout.
Build skills to prevent and manage burnout.
Equip yourself with self-compassion to protect against burnout.

FAQs

What are the entry requirements?

Anyone 18 years of age or older can sign up for this online workshop. There are no academic entry requirements or conditions.

Who is this workshop for?

This workshop is for anyone experiencing prolonged stress or overwhelming demands, especially in roles that involve high responsibility or emotional strain.

What is the time commitment?

A total of 3 hours is required to complete the workshop.

What do you need to do the workshop?

Access to Microsoft Word
Google Chrome (recommended)
Stable internet connection

Is the workshop assessed?

Learners are required to complete an assessment comprising of reading a journal article and answering a 15-question multiple choice questionnaire.

Is the workshop accredited?

The online workshop is accredited by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).

What is burnout?

Burnout is a psychological condition that comes from long-lasting, unhandled stress at work. It has three main characteristics: feeling emotionally drained, experiencing a sense of detachment or cynicism, and a drop in professional effectiveness. Read more here and here.

What can you do after completing this workshop?

HPCSA registered professionals will receive 3 CPD points [3 CEU Continuing Education Units points] upon successful completion of the workshop.

The Team

The SACAP Global team brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience across various disciplines. Our expert short course developers and dedicated support team are passionate about sharing their insights to help you get the most out of your online learning journey.