The Hazards of Helping Burnout for the Therapist

7/27/2019 The Hazards of Helping Burnout for the Therapist

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The Hazards of helping::Burnout for the therapist

David Parmer M.A., L.P.C., L.C.D.C.

CONROE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Coordinator of Crisis Counseling and Prevention



“STRESSED OUT”

• Stress contributes to 90% of

all diseases.

• Half of visits to the doctor are

stress related.• Anxiety reduction is one of

the largest businesses in

America.

• Professionals who have a

higher rate of suicide are inhelping or care-giving

occupations.(Croucher, 1982)



DISCUSSION

What is stress?

What is burnout?

What are some things that causeyou to feel optimistic and

hopeful?

What are some common behaviors

for a professional who feels

“hopeless” or “empty”?

On a scale of 1 – 10 how stressful is

you life right now?



Several Hazards for

Counselors• The disparity between

expectations and hard reality.

• Lack of clearly defined

boundaries.

• Workaholic mentality

• Conflict over leading and serving

at the same time.

• Confusion of role identity with self

image.

• Deriving too much self-esteem

from what we do.

• Balance between practice and

personal life.

• Time Management Problems.

• Small number of “perks”.

• Multiplicity of Roles.

• Difficulty in managing interruptions.• Taking ourselves too serious.

• Difficulty being spontaneous.

• Administration overload.

• Supervision either too demanding

or too light.• Resentful about duties not

commensurate with pay.

• Concerned about job security.



STRESS

• When events are perceivedas things that must besolved or corrected notunder our control of that

person.

• Expectations + Reality = Disappointment

• Stress does not happen tome.

• Stress results from my ownabsorption of what has

occurred.



BURNOUT

• Burnout is not simplyexcessive stress.

• Burnout is a complex

human reaction to on-going stress.

• Burnout occurs whenthe counselor’s inner resources areinadequate for managing tasks andsituations.



TEXAS STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS

ETHICALGUIDELINES

Impairment of the counselor can create many breachesin the ethical codes regarding jeopardy and

mistreatment for the client.

Code 681.35 Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Use or Promote Illegal Drugs

Possession of Illegal Drugs or Alcohol while providingintervention services

Code 681.33 Sexual Misconduct

Code 681.33 (i) Reporting another licensee’smisconduct to the licensure board (see overhead)



CASE STUDY SCENARIO

You are a practicing LPC in privatepractice – Archibald, a newclient comes to see you due tofeelings of depression and workrelated stress. As a part of the

details, he shares that he hasbeen having a extra-maritalaffair with his previous therapist.

The client states that their counseling relationship endedless than a year ago. Out of

loyalty, the client reports thatthe therapist discontinuedcounseling a year before anyintimacy occurred.

What do you do?

You have 30 days after you learn of the relationship to inform thelicensure board.

Provide your name

The client can remainanonymous

Describe the details

Provide the name of theperpetrator

Local law enforcement must benotified



“DEPLETION OF

THE SOUL”

“Burnout is an erosion of the spirit.” (Freudenberger, 1980)

High Ideals & Motivation

(Minus) - Depletion of Spirit & Faith in our capacity to make a difference

B U R N O U T



HOW TO KNOW IF YOU ARE ON THE ROAD TO BURNOUT

Rate each of the following feelings.

A = never B = occasionally C = frequently

1) Feel like others don’t give you

support.

2) Feel like you are responsiblefor things you don’t really

have control of.

3) Feel like you are being let

down by others.

4) Feel like you can’t be yourself most of the time.

5) Feel or act defensive.

6) Feel intimidated by others.

7) Think only about your job with

little interest in outside

hobbies.8) Think that you are better off

isolated from others.

9) Think that you are

unappreciated.

10) Think about running away.11) Think that “the system” is

against you.

12) Think that most of your

attempts end in failure.

(Messina & Messina, 2005)



DIFFERENCES BETWEEN

BURNOUT AND STRESS

Dr. Arch Hart Burnout is a defense characterized by disengagement.Stress is characterized by over-engagement.

In Burnout the emotions become blunted.In Stress the emotions become over-reactive.

In Burnout the emotional damage is primary.In Stress the physical damage is primary.

The exhaustion of Burnout affects motivation and drive.The exhaustion of Stress affects physical energy.

Burnout produces demoralization.Stress produces disintegration.

Burnout can best be understood as a loss of ideals and hope.Stress can best be understood as a loss of fuel and energy.



DIFFERENCES BETWEEN

BURNOUT AND STRESS

The depression of Burnout is caused by the grief engendered by the loss of

ideals and hope.

The depression of Stress is produced by the body's need to protect itself and

conserve energy.

Burnout produces a sense of helplessness and hopelessness.

Stress produces a sense of urgency and hyperactivity.

Burnout produces paranoia, depersonalization and detachment.

Stress produces panic, phobic, and anxiety-type disorders.

Burnout may never kill you but your long life may not seem worth living.

Stress may kill you prematurely, and you won't have enough time to finish what

you started.

(Croucher, 1982)



PREVENTION of burnout

1. Scan your life experience periodically

How much enjoyment and satisfaction comes solely from work?

Do I have feelings of hope and optimism in my life?

How important is it for me to be appreciated by others?

How am I getting my own personal needs met outside of counseling

relationships?

2. Get good supervision

Does my supervisor promote genuine healthy personal growth for counselors?

Does my supervisor have a healthy style of life?

Do we discuss in supervision counter-transference responses?

Does my supervision focus my growth as a therapist

– to avoid blind spots and avoid tunnel vision.



PREVENTION of burnout

3. Assess the balance of activities

How one-dimensional am I?

Do I think, read, and study only what is relevant to my profession and

neglect other interests, people, and ideas?Do I nurture my own spiritual development?

Do I have hobbies and interests beyond helping others?

4. Honestly assessing family life

Do I get feedback from current family members on my attitude and mood?

What were the messages about work I received from my family of origin?

How did my family of origin resolve conflict?

How did my family of origin relax and play?

(Grosch and Olsen, 1994)



REFERENCES

Croucher, R. (1982). Resources for Pastors. Retrieved June 22,

2005, fromhttp://www.churchlink.com.au/churchlink/forum/rcroucher/stressburnout.html.

Freudenberger, H. (1980). Burnout: The high cost of high

achievement. New York: Doubleday.

Grosch, W., & Olsen, D. (1994). When helping starts to hurt. New

York: Norton.

Messina, J.J., Messina, C.M., (2005). Retrieved June 22, 2005, from

http://www.coping.org.

http://www.churchlink.com.au/churchlink/forum/rcroucher/stressburnout.html

http://www.coping.org/

http://www.coping.org/

http://www.churchlink.com.au/churchlink/forum/rcroucher/stressburnout.html

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The Hazards of Helping Burnout for the Therapist