Therapist Explains How AI-Driven Burnout Affects Silicon Valley Professionals

Nick Sanchez, a licensed marriage and family therapist serving the San Francisco Bay Area, reports that nearly all of his tech-sector clients struggle with burnout, a condition he now sees amplified by AI tools. He explains that AI enables constant deep work on several projects, leaving users to decide when to pause, which often leads to what he calls "AI burnout." Because his clients are driven to increase output rather than reduce it, Sanchez employs exposure-therapy methods to secure their agreement to take short, regular breaks that ultimately boost productivity.

He recounts a case where a client could not even leave their car for work, illustrating the severity of the issue. Drawing from his own experience of AI-induced fatigue while expanding his practice, he advises limiting simultaneous projects and structuring the day into focused blocks. Sanchez also highlights how AI can assist therapy by providing prompts and exercises, allowing in-session conversations to reach deeper levels.