Self-Care for Helping Professionals

1. Self-Care for Helping Professionals Presenter: Rev. Dr. Torin T. Sanders, LCSW-BACS

2. Objectives: As a result of this training, participants will be able to: To identify & describe the elements of burnout And compassion fatigue, as it applies to helping professionals. Assess at least two possible sources of stress in the workplace and state at least two strategies to mitigate these stressors.

3. Objectives To analyze our work/professional experiences in relation to burnout and compassion fatigue.

4. Objectives To develop and implement a plan of self-care to reduce the presence of burnout and compassion fatigue in our professional lives.

5. WHAT ARE THE WAYS OUR WORK MAY AFFECT US?

6. Symptoms of Stress high blood pressure diarrhea Headache stomach upset tooth grinding clenched jaws back pain shortness of breath skin problems Chest pain Weight gain or loss constipation sleep problems

7. What is Stress? The most commonly accepted definition of stress (mainly attributed to Richard S. Lazarus) is that stress is a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize.

8. What Is Stress? Hans Selye’s view in 1956 was that “stress is not necessarily something bad – it all depends on how you take it. The stress of exhilarating, creative successful work is beneficial, while that of failure, humiliation or infection is detrimental.”

9. What happens when my body perceives changes? Messages travel through the SNS sympathetic nervous system in a bi-directional (two-way) flow. Efferentmessages can trigger changes in different parts of the body simultaneously. For example, the sympathetic nervous system can accelerate heart rate; widen bronchial passages; decrease motility (movement) of the large intestine; constrict blood vessels; cause pupildilation, piloerection (goose bumps) and perspiration (sweating); and raise blood pressure.

10. Cost of Stress Stress helps account for two-thirds of family doctor visits and, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half the deaths to Americans under 65. It has been implicated in heart, stomach and mental disorders, along with the more ordinary headaches, backaches and high blood pressure and cholesterol. Kiecolt-Glaser's 10-year study of medical students found decreased levels of the body's natural killer cells, which fight infections and tumors, during even the familiar stress periods of exams. Source Sickness Can Be Price of Unbridled StressBy Kevin Lamb

11. Burnout and Compassion Fatigue

12. Burnout • Gradual Onset • “a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion caused by long term involvement in emotionally demanding situations.”(Nelson-Gardell, 2003) • “the index of the dislocation between what people are and what they have to do.”(Maslach, Leiter, 1997) • “describes a syndrome that goes beyond physical fatigue from overwork. Stress and emotional exhaustion are a part of it, but the hallmark of burnout is the distancing that goes on in response to overload.”(Maslach, 1997)

13. Burnout: Indicators • Erosion in values, dignity, spirit and will-an erosion of the human soul • Over time; imbalance of what you can give and provides less than what you need • Feel overworked, undervalued, no longer in control of the job you do • Presence of negative emotions and the absence of positive ones Sensibilities, Inc. 2005

14. Compassion Fatigue Referred to as the “cost of caring” for others; includes exhaustion; an inability to refuel and the loss of ability to feel compassion.

15. Signs and Symptoms • Tired • Less socializing • Lower productivity • Hopelessness • Despair • Cynicism • Question humanity • Persistent anger or sadness • Disturbing mental images • Anxiety • Nightmares • Decreased sense of safety (Siegfried, 2008)

16. It is NOT a sign of weakness Burnout & Compassion Fatigue is a real issue for helping professionals. Although there is likely no way to avoid it altogether, there are ways to mitigate the effects. Just as individuals need take responsibility for their own emotional health, organizations need to take responsibility for their employee’s well-being

17. SELF CARE PROFESSIONAL MANDATE & PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

18. SELF CARE ASSESSMENT & PLANNING

19. WHEN THE WELL IS DRY, WE KNOW THE WORTH OF WATER BEN FRANKLIN

20. Develop Self-Help Ask for help - express to your supervisor how you may be feeling overwhelmed. Top performers can be burned out very easily by constantly handling complex, emotionally charged cases which can be stressful - To de-stress, discuss caseload with supervisor and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

21. Guidelines for Successful Stress Management Establish clear, specific obtainable goals. Start small changes to managing stress. Start from where you are, and build towards your goal. Make one change at a time. Plan ways to manage stress. Reward yourself for good work. Look for ways to control your life. Manage stress on a daily basis. Find humor and laugh.

22. SELF EFFICACY Having the skills & competencies to achieve tasks

23. Threats to Self Efficacy Must be successful with each client Must be the very best practitioner Must be liked and respected Hard work makes everything fall into place

24. Time Management Set priorities & goals Supportive supervision Stephen Covey

25. RELAXATION Breathing Progressive Muscle Relaxation Mindfulness Yoga/Meditation Visual Imagery

26. Some types of Stress Are…

27. References Bride, B., Jones, J., MacMaster, S. (2007). Correlates of Secondary Traumatic Stress in Child Protective Services Workers. Hawthorne Press, Inc. Retrieved on August 1, 2008 from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org Brohl, K. (2006). Understanding and Preventing Worker Burnout: Do I have burnout, or am I just fatigued by my compassion? Child Welfare League of America. Retrieved on August 11, 2008 from http://www.cwla.org/voice/0609management.htm Caringi, J.C. (2007). Secondary Traumatic Stress in New York State Child Welfare Worrkers. Dissertation, University at Albany, State University of new York. Retrieved on July 18, 2008 from http://proquest.umi.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/pqdweb?index=0&did=1421616261&SrchMode=2&sid=1&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1218849102&clientId=70192 Horwitz, M. (1998). Social Worker Trauma: Building Resilience in Child Protection Social Workers. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 68(3). June 1998. Retrieved on August 1, 2008 from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org

28. References, con’t Nelson-Gardell, D., Harris, D. (2003). Childhood Abuse History, Secondary Traumatic Stress and Child Welfare Workers. Child Welfare League of America. Retrieved on August 6, 2008 from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org Perry, B. (2003). The Cost of Caring: Secondary Traumatic Stress and the Impact of Working With High-Risk Children and Families. The Child Trauma Academy. Retrieved on July 7, 2008 from http://www.childtrauma.org/ctamaterials/SecTrma2_03_v2.pdf Siegfried, C. (2008). Child Welfare Work and Secondary Traumatic Stress. National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, UCLA. Module 6, Activity 6C. Retrieved on July 18, 2008 from http://www.nctsnet.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/cwt3_sho_sts.pdf Weiten, W. (2008). Psychology Themes & Variations (7th ed.). Belmont, CA. Thompson Learning, Inc.

29. Thank You!Have a Great Day • 