Dr Toby Silverton (PhD.) and Dr Bev McLagan (PhD.) otherwise known as The Burnout Queens.
We have been psychotherapists, coaches, and educators for over three decades. We are proud to say that we have dedicated our careers to inspiring women to become the powerful, wise, and healthy women they were destined to be. We measure our success in seeing women reach their full potential, pursue their wildest dreams, and live more bravely and boldly than they ever believed was possible.
People tell us that “we make life look easy”, but it has not always felt that way! We are both Highly Sensitive and we have faced many challenges, enjoyed many successes, and made many bold decisions.
Here’s our story…
We were busy professionals, busy women, okay very busy, living overwhelming, pressured, over-stressed, highly achieving, and successful lives. We juggled a thriving private practice, the business end of business, teaching, hospital schedules, running a non-profit organisation for eating disorders, graduate school, writing books and articles, caring for aging parents and sick elderly pets, family life, and as women tend to do, anything else we could squeeze into the mix.
As we tried to do and be our very best we were chalking up burnout points with every “YES” we said. Long hours, too many responsibilities, family crises and losses, illnesses and deaths, and a major car accident finally took its toll. We were injured, exhausted, stressed, and less than enthusiastic about our lives, let alone our dreams. We had fallen into the burnout trap!
After 2 full decades of overwhelming demands, stress, mishaps, and crises something had to give. Yes, it was definitely time to re-group. We started prioritising different parts of our lives. We got serious about taking care of ourselves. We learned to let go of what was not working. We started making new choices, simplifying life, and embracing the change that was so desperately needed. We went from flat on our face to back on our feet. Rising from the ashes of burnout renewed our energy, optimism, and purpose.
New Year’s day, 2006 we were on a well earned holiday in Hawaii when we made the bold (some would say crazy!) decision to move halfway around the world. We were about to make a lifelong dream come true.
In 2009, we packed up and moved, business and all, from Canada to England. Our wonderful, brilliant clients inspired by our enthusiasm, bravery, and willingness to reach for our dreams ‘moved virtually’ right along with us. Now we live in the country of our dreams and work with women (and some men) around the world.
Although at the time living with burnout was exhausting, depressing, disappointing, and disheartening in hindsight it turned out to be an absolute gift. Burnout gave us the opportunity to completely rethink how we were living and working. We redesigned life so that we would never, ever burn out again.
GET TO KNOW DR TOBY SILVERTON
B.A. Psychology
M.A. Counselling Psychology
PhD. (Doctorate) Counselling Psychology
My many years of higher education were focused on the psychology and psychotherapy of women. In addition to my extensive theoretical and clinical education, I also trained at the Institute for Life Coach Training (US), the Coaching Business School (UK), and the Graduate School of Coaching (US). I am currently a Full Member of the Association of Coaching UK.
The addition of coaching to my practice simply enhanced my work with clients and allowed both myself and clients the freedom to ‘meet’ virtually from anywhere in the world.
My unique style of combining psychotherapy with coaching, psychodynamic coaching, means that clients get the best of both. We move effortlessly between the present and the past, long held patterns and current solutions, and of course future directions and dreams. My clients enjoy and benefit from my insight, honesty, unending support, and belief in them. I usually see life at a 45 degree angle which brings a quirky perspective to all of our work.
My life has always revolved around my love of nature and animals. This has been reflected in being a gardener since the age of 3 to the myriad of pets that have graced my life including my two current mini-hounds.
GET TO KNOW DR BEV McLAGAN
B.A. Psychology
M.A. Counselling Psychology
PhD. (Doctorate) Counselling Psychology
My graduate education, training, and research specialised in the psychology and psychotherapy of adult women and men, and the dynamics of group psychology.
Over the years clients moved away and yet still wanted to continue our work, so we worked over the phone. Coaching gave me a way to have an even greater global reach. I trained at the Institute for Life Coach Training (US), the Coaching Business School (UK), and the Graduate School of Coaching (US). I am currently a Full Member of the Association of Coaching UK.
My clients come to me for my unique style of psychodynamic coaching which integrates my background in depth psychology along with coaching skills. My brand of coaching means my clients and I seamlessly move between present and past, reflecting and planning, always with the aim of moving life in the direction of their dreams. My clients appreciate and benefit from my common sense, honest, realistic, and non-judgemental perspective…along with a healthy dose of humour.
I live and work from my deeply held values of justice, truth, integrity, and loyalty. I channel these values into my love of animals, personally with my two mini-hounds and globally with animal welfare organisations.
I currently work and play from my home in the South of England where I get to indulge my love of history, nature, art, and adventure.
Please get in touch if you would like to have a consultation with one of The Burnout Queens.