Rekindling the Fire for Addiction Counseling:

Beyond BurnoutJim Seckman, MAC, CACII, CCS

What do you like about this field?

?

What happened?• Managed Care• Government Funding• Regulatory/Accreditation Bodies• Evidenced Based Practices

In the old days we really began to see how we made a difference in people’s lives.

Gradually, we began to have to dance to the tune of different masters.

Crisis Counseling

• A crisis of hope• Probably led to a lack of energy

• A crisis of relationship• May have led to a decrease of

confidence

• A crisis of expectation• May be what led to burnout

BurnoutFeeling

robbed of vitality helpless betrayed

Overwhelmed immobilized depressed

Fatigued oppressed apathetic

discouraged resistant

Negative isolated like a failure

Causes of Burnout• Doing the same type of work with little

variation• Giving personally but not getting back• Being under constant pressure to

perform• Working with a difficult population• Conflict and tension among staff

Causes of Burnout• Lack of trust between staff members• Not have opportunities for personal

expression or initiative• Jobs that are taxing without

supervision• Unresolved personal conflicts

AwarenessKnowing others is wisdom. Knowing oneself

is enlightenment

What are you feeling?

What are your feelings telling you?

AwarenessOur feelings give us information

about

What’s going on inside of us

What‘s going on around us

What we need to do

Suggestions• Work on clearly identifying old messages• Evaluate your goals, priorities, and

expectations• Let go of unrealistic expectations• Learn to monitor the impact of stress• Immediately process intense encounters• Take responsibility for yourelf

BoundariesThe emotional/physical space you allow

What defines our rolesWho we are as a counselor

Protection Taking care of ourselves

External BoundariesSnow White and the Huntsman

Develop detached concern

How is your energy taken?

How do we protect it?

How do we give it away?

How do we replenish it?

External Boundaries• Container Model• Suggestions for working with clients

• Get rid of any “me vs. them”• Be present in the present• Separate the urgent vs. the necessary• Be clear about our stuff vs. their stuff• Be realistic about outcomes and expectations• Don’t act out their anxiety• Work with the team

Internal BoundariesHelps protect ourselves from self-defeating thoughts and behaviorsOur focus shapes our feelings

Our purpose defines our priorities

Internal BoundariesDon’t get caught up in:

Allowing yourself to complainPicturing yourself in other circumstances

Comparing your situation to someone else’sAllowing yourself to wish things had been

otherwiseDwelling on tomorrow

ChoicesWho do we blame?

Responsibility and controlConcentration Camp mentality

What choices are we making, or not making, to keep ourselves

alive?

Choices

Care for yourself

Be deliberate about doing good things for yourself and renewing your energy

ChangeTwo types of activities in

lifeThose that lead to life and those that lead to death

Death is easyLife takes deliberate,

intentional, choices and behaviors

ChangeIndividuals who experience burnout

believe they cannot change their situation. To revitalize a career and move away from a burnout state, individuals need to change their

thought processes and viewpoints about the people and things that

may be contributing to their burnout.

Change

Get busy livingor

Get busy dying

Change

God, grant me the serenityTo accept the things I cannot changeThe courage to change the things I

canAnd the wisdom to know the

difference