BURNOUT IN COUNSELING

BURNOUT IN COUNSELLINGLEARNING OBJECTIVESAt the end of this presentation, we should be able to:Define stress.List out the basic types of stressor.Enumerate the characteristics of stress.Describe the causes of stress.Explain factors that affecting response to stress.LEARNING OBJECTIVESDefine burnout.Explain the differences between stress and burnout.List out the stages of burnout.Explain the causes of counselor burnout.Describe the signs and symptoms of burnout.Explain the prevention strategies to avoid burnout.Describe burnout coping strategies.

DEFINITIONStress is the bodys reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental or emotional adjustment or response. (adapted from About.com by Angela Morrow, RN)

EXPLANATIONChanges which can cause stress can come both in internal and external environment.Internal environment can be considered as a person negative internal perceptions about a situation which can leads a person to has negative feelings and eventually cause a person to feel stress.External environment is like increase in the workloads.TYPES OF STRESSOREustress : positive stressDistress : negative stress

EXPLANATIONStressors are any factors that can cause a person to feel stress.Eustress is a pleasant, curative and motivational stressor.Distress is an unpleasant stressor which can leads a person to have negative emotions.What may be a eustress for one person maybe a distress to another.Example: stress seeker may find extreme activities a eustress but others may find it a distress.CHARACTERISTICS OF STRESSHyperstress (overstress)Hypostress (understress)

EXPLANATIONHyperstress is a state when the stress has extended the limits of adaptability in which a person has.Hyperstress is when you feel you are overloaded with stress.Hypostress is a state when a person suffers from lack of self realization. Self realization is our own realization or fulfillment of our own potential or abilities.Example: boredom.

EXPLANATIONThis chart illustrates the relationship between the various aspects of stress and burnout and the level of performance.Boredom is the hypostress. Stimulated, effective and optimum are the eustress. Overload, irritable and anxious are hyperstress.The higher level of eustress leads to high rate of productivity.But, we have to make sure the eustress that we are having will not overloaded and turn to hyperstress which will leads to burnout.CAUSES OF STRESS

EXPLANATIONHealth: being diagnosed with chronic or terminal illness by the doctor.Emotional problems: any negative emotions that a person cannot express or any unfinished business. Example: anger and depression.Relationship problem: problems with current relationship or feeling lack of friendship or support in life.Major life changes: death of spouse/family members/friends, losing job, getting married or moving to a new place.CAUSES OF STRESS

EXPLANATIONSurrounding: live in an area where overcrowding, crime, pollution or noise.Social institution: being poor, feels lonely or facing discrimination based on race, gender, age, etc.Occupation: being unhappy with job or finding your current job is too demanding for you.Unemployment: losing your current job or not being able to find a suitable job.FACTORS AFFECTING RESPONSE TO STRESSPersonality traitsEnvironmentMagnitude of stressorPerception of situationSelf perceived ability to handle stressorPrevious pattern in dealing with stressorEXPLANATIONPersonality traits: a neurotic person may get stressed easily and will turn to have a dangerous behavior. A calmer person will reacts to stress calmly compared to a neurotic person.Environment: the support or help available for you to cope with the stress. People who have great support from family members and friends reacts more calm to stress.Magnitude of stressors: the quality and severity of the stressors. An individual with high intensity of stressors may be more panic in coping with stressor compared to the one with low intensity of stressor. EXPLANATION(cont..)Perceptions of situation: how we perceived our current situation plays major role in reaction to stress. If we perceived it as positive, our reaction to stress will be positive as well.Self-perceived ability in handle stress: if we believe that we can cope with stress, definitely the reaction would be calm and positive.Previous pattern in dealing with stress: previous experience in handling stress is important when we face new stress. If reaction in the previous stress event was calm and steady, our reaction towards new stress event would probably be the same as well.

DEFINITIONBurnout is the depletion of physical and mental resources characterized by a loss of motivation, enthusiasm, energy and interests, as well as a significantly lower level of performance. (Kyriacou & Sutcliff, 1978).

EXPLANATIONBurnout is also known as nervous breakdown.In other words, burnout is a state of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion by excessive and prolonged stress (hyperstress).

EXPLANATIONExposure to stress in a long period of time without effective stress management can cause an individual to feel overloaded with stress. Once he/she feels overloaded, then finally they will become exhausted from the stress and it cause burnout.DIFFERENCES BETWEEN STRESS AND BURNOUTSTRESSBURNOUTCharacterized by over engagementCharacterized by disengagementOveractive emotionsBlunted emotionsProduces urgency and hyperactivitiesProduces helplessness and hopelessness Loss of energyLoss of motivation, ideas and hopeLeads to anxiety disordersLeads to detachment and depressionPrimary damage : physicalPrimary damage: emotionalEXPLANATIONEngagement: counselors who are positively attached not only to the clients but everything concerning to their occupation.Over engagement: a state when counselors are overly attached to the work in a negative way. Example: willingly to sacrifice time with family, friends and health for the sake of the work and having unclear boundaries between work and personal life.Disengagement: freedom from obligation. Where counselors do not have emotional commitment to their work or the workplace.EXPLANATIONOveractive emotions: involuntary and usually overly intense reaction to an external emotional stimulus , which often leads to feeling victimized by the emotions.Blunted emotions: a state when people feel that they have no more emotions whether positive or negative.Produces urgency and hyperactivity: stress will make us work harder just for the sake to relieve the stress. A person will feels rushed in completing the work that causes stress.27EXPLANATIONProduces helplessness and hopelessness: burnout makes us feel helpless and hopeless because of the give up feeling that we felt during burnout.Loss of energy: physical exhaustion is due to drained physical strength while rushing up to complete the work just to relieved the stress.Detachments: isolating own selves from the world or other people.

STAGES OF BURNOUTEXPLANATIONAlarm reaction Counselors start to mobilize their defense mechanism mainly is denial.Counselors will fail to respond to early warning signs of burnout of not being able to adapt to a new or continued stressors.ResistanceOccurs when stressors in stage 1 continue to persists and increase in intensity.Counselors will start to divert their energies away from personal growth and professional responsibilities directly toward managing the stress. Clients will suffer the most because counselors begin to helpless and powerless.Counselors function at very low level both in professionally and personally.EXPLANATIONExhaustionmanifests when counselors failed to deal with the first 2 stages effectively.Counselors are now have high level of cynicism, inflexibility, and withdrawal.Counselors may also end up with illness most probably cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and heart attack, depression and possibly suicide.CAUSES OF COUNSELOR BURNOUTExcessive case loadsUnclear or overly demanding career expectationsLack of recognition or rewards for good workToo many difficult cases to attend toWorking too much without enough time for relaxing and socializing

CAUSES OF COUNSELOR BURNOUTPessimist Unattainable goalsLack of close and supportive relationshipPerfectionistic

EXPLANATIONPessimist: always expecting the worst or something bad might happen to you.Unattainable goal: when goals set are difficult to achieved.Perfectionistic: a person who is displeased by anything that does not meet very high standards.SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BURNOUTPhysicalTired and feeling drained all the time.Feeling sick a lot.Frequent headache, back pain and muscle ache.Change in appetite and sleep habit.SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BURNOUTEmotionalSense of failure and self doubt.Feel helpless, trapped and defeated.Loss of motivationIncrease in cynical and negative outlookDecreased satisfaction and sense of accomplishmentSIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BURNOUTBehavioralWithdrawing from responsibilitiesIsolate from othersProcrastinationUse food, alcohol and drugs to cope.Taking out frustration on others.Skipping work or come late but leave early.BURNOUT PREVENTION TIPS Start the day with relaxing ritual.Adopt healthy eating, sleeping and exercising habits.Set boundaries.Take a daily break from your work.Nourish inner creative sideStress managementEXPLANATIONStart the day with a relaxing ritual.Rather than jumping out of bed as soon as you wake up, spend at least fifteen minutes meditating, writing in your journal, doing gentle stretches, or reading something that inspires you.Adopt healthy eating, exercising, and sleeping habits.When you eat right, engage in regular physical activity, and get plenty of rest, you have the energy and resilience to deal with lifes hassles and demands.EXPLANATIONTake a daily break from your work.Set a time daily in your schedule to disconnect yourself physically and mentally from work.Nourish your creative side.Creativity is a powerful antidote to burnout. Try something new, start a fun project, or resume a favorite hobby. Choose activities that have nothing to do with work.Set boundaries.Dont overextend yourself. Learn how to say no to requests on your time. If you find this difficult, remind yourself that saying no allows you to say yes to the things that you truly want to do.BURNOUT COPING STRATEGIESTake a breakGet supportReevaluate goals and prioritiesAcknowledge what have we loseEXPLANATIONTake a break. Cut back whatever commitments and activities you can. Give yourself time to rest, reflect, and heal.Get support. Turn to your loved ones for support. Simply sharing your feelings with another person can relieve some of the burden.Reevaluate goals and priorities. Take time to think about your hopes, goals, and dreams

EXPLANATIONAcknowledge what have we lose. Burnout makes us do not recognize what we have lost during burnout. All of these unrecognized loses will trapped our inner energy. So, take some time to recognize all of the loses and allow ourselves to grieves. Once we already recognized all of the loses, the trapped energy will be released and we now open ourselves for healing.Examples of loss: loss of role/identity, loss of self-esteem/self-worth and loss of joy.CONCLUSIONStress reaction towards changes either in internal or external environment.Stress: Eustress and Distress.Stress: Hyperstress and Hypostress.Burnout - excessive levels of hyperstress and results in exhaustion or hypostress.Burnout: Alarm Reaction, Resistance and Exhaustion.Once, we are aware that we are stressed, we should use effective stress management techniques to enusre it will not become overwhelmed which will lead to hyperstress and eventually burnout.REFERENCESSmith, M., Segal, J. & Segal, R. (June 13, 2013). Preventing burnout, signs, symptoms, causes, and coping strategies. Retrieved July 12, 2013, from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/burnout_signs_symptoms.htmBennet, S.M. (2007). Counselor Burnout. Retrieved July 12, 2013, from http://www.powershow.com/view/96b2c-ZDVmN/Counselor_Burnout_powerpoint_ppt_presentationStress Management Causes of Stress. (April 20, 2011). Retrieved July, 12 2013, from http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/stress-management-causes-of-stressREFERENCESWhat Is Burnout? (2013). Retrieved July 12, 2013, from http://www.counsellingconnection.com/index.php/2009/09/10/what-is-burnout/Smith, M., Jaffe-Gill, E., & Segal, J. (2008). Preventing Burnout: Signs symptoms, causes, and coping strategies. Retrieved July 12, 2013, from http://www.breakthroughburnout.webs.com/Scott, E. Stress and Burnout: Burnout symptoms and causes. (January 3, 2012). Retrieved July 12, 2013, from http://stress.about.com/od/burnout/a/stressn_burnout.htmREFERENCESPeterson, J., V. & Nisenholz, B. (1999). Orientation to Counseling: Stress Management and the Prevention of Burnout. 4th Edition. Massachusetts. Allyn &Bacon.Potter, B. ( 2013). The Differences Between Burnout and Stress. Retrieved July 12, 2013, from http://www.gewood.com/burnout-and-stress.htmlAvoiding burnout, maintaining a healthy, successful career. (2013). Retrieved from July 12, 2013, from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/avoiding-burnout.htmREFERENCESBurnout Self - Test. ( 2013). Retrieved July 12, 2013, from http://www.mindtools.com/stress/Brn/BurnoutSelfTest.htmStress assessment : Rate your stress level. (June 18, 2010). Retrieved July 12, 2013, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-assessment/SR00029QUESTIONSDefine BURNOUT.From your own understanding, what are the DIFFERENCES BETWEEN STRESS AND BURNOUT?What are the CAUSES OF BURNOUT?List out all the STAGES OF BURNOUT.Enumerate the TYPES OF STRESSOR.THANK YOU