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self_care.pptxProfessional Issues 2: Self Care
Katherine is a counselor with a private practice. This was always her dream. Ever since she was young she wanted to help people who were hurting so counseling was a natural profession for her to gravitate toward. She reasons this may have been due in part to her own upbringing, which was difficult at times. Katherine’s parents divorced at an early age and she lived a lot of different places during her childhood. Somewhat introverted, it was always a challenge for Katherine to form new friends whenever she moved to a new place.
Katherine has a tendency to take on a lot of clients. This is partly because she really empathizes with clients who are hurting and feels good when she is able to help them. But she is also anxious about having enough clients. Even though her case load is more than full, she worries that there will be a downturn and she will have a hard time making ends meet financially. She also finds it stressful handling the business side of her practice. Consequently, she regularly finds herself working 60-70 hours per week.
Why do we go into a people helping field?
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Social Exchange
Rewards – Costs = Satisfaction
10-4 = 6
4-10 = -6
As long as the rewards outweigh the benefits, we will probably be satisfied
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Rewards
Pay
Enjoyment
Making difference
Seeing change and progress in people
Travel
Educating others
Flexibility
Advocating
Dependable and reliable
More education
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Costs
Pay
More education and continuing education
Burnout
High-risk and secondary trauma
Difficulty finding a job
Responsibility
Failures or non-success
Counter transference
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Why Self Care?
Because of its intensity, people helping can be an emotionally draining experience
When this occurs, costs rise and rewards decrease
In order to replenish, those in the helping fields need to be careful to take care of themselves
If we don’t, it can impact our work and our personal lives
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Compassion Fatigue (aka Burnout)
Results from repeated, intense interactions with people dealing with significant difficulties
Signs include
Exhaustion - Irritability
Insensitivity to others - Depression
Hopelessness
What would you suggest to a someone
showing these symptoms?
Taking care of yourself
Develop a healthy work/personal life/family balance
Cultivate interests that are not work related
Enforce “no work zones”
Allow clients to own their
problems – not you
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Taking care of yourself
Take care of your health
Exercise
Diet
Sleep
Taking care of yourself
Seek out social support
Find people to hang out with that fill you up and don’t drain you
Cultivate friendships with people outside the helping professions
Professional relationships
Colleagues
Supervisors
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Why is it so hard to practice self-care?
Supervision and Consultation
Clinical supervision usually done with interns, beginning counselors
Client protection
Requirement for licensure
Peer consultation
Independent clinicians providing mutual consultation
What happens in supervision?
Case consultation
Case discussion
Video or live review
Review relevant paperwork (progress notes, treatment plans, etc.)
What happens in supervision?
Discussion of overall progress (strengths, growth areas)
Self of the therapist work
How does work with a client affect you?
What are your points of unawareness that you may need to become aware of?
Are there areas you need to work on personally to be a more effective counselor?
Post-class scenario
Compare with pre-class scenario
Katherine is a counselor with a private practice. This was always her dream. Ever since she was young she wanted to help people who were hurting so counseling was a natural profession for her to gravitate toward. She reasons this may have been due in part to her own upbringing, which was difficult at times. Katherine’s parents divorced at an early age and she lived a lot of different places during her childhood. Somewhat introverted, it was always a challenge for Katherine to form new friends whenever she moved to a new place.
Katherine has a tendency to take on a lot of clients. This is partly because she really empathizes with clients who are hurting and feels good when she is able to help them. But she is also anxious about having enough clients. Even though her case load is more than full, she worries that there will be a downturn and she will have a hard time making ends meet financially. She also finds it stressful handling the business side of her practice. Consequently, she regularly finds herself working 60-70 hours per week.
Reflection
How have your skills changed from start of class until now?
What have you learned about yourself and helping others via this class?
Is there anything you will miss about our class?
In what ways will you continue to put learned skills into practice?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUKKJapwUXc
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