Counselor

Burnout

Sheila M. BennettFall 2007

What Is Burnout?Definitions include:Physical, emotional & attitudinal exhaustion

Goes beyond fatigue…hallmark is the distancing that goes on in response to the overload

What Is Burnout?Definitions include:Happens when people feel out of control or feel a lack of recognition and reward

One of the biggest contributing factors is a mismatch of values

What Is Burnout?Definitions include:A consequence of a perceived disparity between the demands of the job and the resources available to him or her—both material and emotional resources

General Symptoms of BurnoutFeeling overwhelmedTired all the timeAnger, resentmentCynicalUnmotivatedRelationship problems

General Symptoms of BurnoutAnxiety, DepressionFeeling hopelessPhysical symptoms include: headache, GI symptoms, weight change, sleep disturbance

Examples of Counselor Burnout

Mary has been a mental health counselor for 20 years. Her caseload includes the most severely disturbed clients in the center. She sees 8 to 10 clients a day leaving little time for paperwork.

Examples of Counselor Burnout

Jim is a 41 yr, he has been a counselor for ten years. He finds himself becoming overwhelmed with stress. He comes home anxious, irritable, tired, angry and obsessed with his clients’ problems. He feels angry at many of his clients and his co-workers.

Symptoms of Counselor BurnoutBored with counselingNo longer attends workshops

on new counseling ideasWants everything to be

perfect but is very harsh on themselves when they make mistakes.

Symptoms of Counselor BurnoutConstantly feel you

should be doing more

Withdrawn-feel more comfortable doing paperwork than interacting with clients

Symptoms of Counselor BurnoutCan’t remember why you went into counseling

Take your frustration home with you and can’t get away from it

Worry excessively about your clients and their problems

Symptoms of Counselor Burnout

Count the days until your next vacation

Don’t take good care of yourself!

Causes of Counselor BurnoutExcessive case loadToo many extremely difficult casesLack of administrative and peer support

Inadequate salariesLack of Client Interest—too many court referrals

Causes of Counselor BurnoutDifficulty in advancementLack of support from family and friends

Conflict in job perceptionsUnfamiliarity with diagnosticsUnwillingness to seek guidance from others

Causes of Counselor BurnoutFear for personal safetyFrequent changes in rules and regulations

Lack of paper work time i.e. behind in paperwork

What You Can Do About Burnout

Learn more about diagnostics and therapy

Share information, talk to your colleagues, network

Learn to say “no”

What You Can Do About BurnoutIdentify your main goals

Do relaxation activitiesOrganize time and set priorities

Maintain a good dietExercise

What You Can Do About BurnoutLeave your counseling at workPursue a project or hobbyDon’t procrastinate on paperwork

Don’t feel that you must do everything

Keep a “things to do” list

What You Can Do About Burnout

Recognize and accept your own limitations

Learn to tolerate and forgive

Get moving, take action!

Learn to play!

What Your Employer Can Do About Burnout

Allow time for counselors to collaborate/talk

Provide more workshops, in-services, advanced courses, etc.

Provide more verbal praise & reinforcement for the job

What Your Employer Can Do About BurnoutProvide more clerical assistanceProvide more educational opportunities to learn about counseling

Provide more social activities and “retreats”

Compassion Fatigue Sometimes thought of as a special form

of burnout, compassion fatigue effects people in the caring professions—doctors, nurses, counselors, ministers, etc

Compassion fatigue results from caring to the point that you are drained of empathy

Compassion Fatigue Compassion fatigue is sometimes

referred to as “secondary PTSD” or “Secondary traumatic stress”

It occurs after expending a great deal of energy and compassion to others over an extended period of time

Compassion Fatigue Compassion Fatigue sometimes occurs

due to unrealistic expectations—i.e. we can “cure” everyone

People with CF feel used up at the end of everyday

They often have no life outside the office

They have given so much there is nothing left to give

Overcoming Compassion Fatigue Learn to recognize the symptoms before

it becomes full blown Do something different at work if you

can Take some time off Eat right and exercise, get plenty of

sleep Spend time with family and freinds

Overcoming Compassion Fatigue Get in touch with your spiritual side Take up a hobby or take a class Do research on something you are

interested in Meditate Lower your expectations of yourself and

others, celebrate small accomplishments

The End