Work – Life Balance, Is that a thing?

Scott E. Fogo, MSW, ACSW, LCSW

PhD. Candidate of Organizational Leadership, Indiana Wesleyan University

Vice President, Clinical Services and Outreach

Easter Seals Crossroads

4740 Kingsway Drive

Indianapolis, IN 46205

Objectives Participants will:

• Understand the Complexities of Helping Relationships

• Understand the definition of professional Boundaries

• Understand the importance ofestablishing boundaries early in helping relationships

Objectives Participants will:

• Gain insight to what causes work-life imbalance, methods of self-care, and the value stress management.

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Let’s be honest…. • You care are deeply about others…

• You are concerned about people you have never met…

• You work hard – maybe too hard…

Let’s be honest…. • You are underpaid…

• Others think your job is easy…

• You have convinced yourself that you really are special…

• You are tired and wonder if there is a way out…

Breathe….

What were you thinking? • What motivates you to help?

• Some of you studied how to help…

• Some of you “accidentally” found yourself helping….

• Some of you are exactly where you planned to be… others…

Is it different from you expected?

• Helping was supposed to be easy…

• Leaders, How have things changed?

• We are together studying the process… the challenges… the science and the art of helping

Why is helping so challenging?

Consumers, practitioners, & other providers all come to the helping

relationship with their own personal worldview…

Why is helping so challenging? Consumers, Practitioners, & Other Providers….

• come from different cultural backgrounds and life experiences.

• have multiple needs; biological, psychological, social spiritual….

• have perceptions of “How it is supposed to be…”

What people think you do…. Helping….

What if feels like you do…. Helping….

Two Relationships in One 1. Fiduciary

– Client places confidence and trust in helper

– Helper is expected to: • Practice with integrity • Respect the inherent rights and dignity of

the client

You have an ethical responsibility to care for yourself to ensure you are able to fulfill your

fiduciary responsibilities.

• Power

• Control

• Authority

• Responsibility

Understanding the Helping Relationship

Exchange

Power

Control

Authority

Responsibility

Of P/C/A/R

Time

Red line = Helping Professional

Blue line = Consumer

Brammer and MacDonald (2002)

Two Relationships in One

1. Fiduciary 2. Therapeutic

– The client is vulnerable to the helper’s influence

– The helper has an ethical responsibility to provide services that are effective.

– Free of dual relationships

You have an ethical responsibility to care for yourself to ensure you are able to fulfill your

fiduciary responsibilities.

Boundaries Defined • Boundaries are the spaces between the

professional’s power and the consumer’s vulnerability.

• Boundary violations can result when there is confusion between the needs of the professional and those of the Consumer

Boundaries Defined

Dual Relationships

“A second relationship” outside the defined helping relationship

• May be ethical or unethical • Problematic or non-problematic

Kagle and Giebelhausen (1994)

Dual Relationship Themes Actions Intimate Relationships sexual relationships

physical contact services to former lover intimate gestures

Personal Benefits monetary gain good and services useful information

Emotional and Dependency Needs extending relationships with clients promoting client dependence confusing personal and professional lives reversing roles with clients

Unanticipated Circumstances social and community events joint affiliations and memberships mutual acquaintances and friends

Reamer (2006)

Boundaries Defined • Clear boundaries = Clear expectations

Boundary is the distinction between the expectations and interactions thatare defined and those that would be considered inappropriate within helping relationship

Boundaries Defined

• Clear boundaries = Clear expectations

Clearly established services and responsibilities in the helping relationship allow for safe connections between service provider and consumer

And a happier you….

Sympathy

Empathy Over

Identification

Principles for Maintaining Professional Boundaries

Consumer

Sympathy… Empathy Stephen Ministry, 2000

Principles for Maintaining Professional Boundaries

• Empower Not Rescue • Take Care of Yourself

– Recognize when you’re wearing down – Do something to replenish your spirit – Refocus on yourself – Rest, eat well, exercise – Develop principles of practice – Leave work at work – Focus on what YOU can control – Staff difficult clients with colleagues

Jordan (2012)

Principles for Maintaining Professional Boundaries

• Service/Supervision Time belongs to the client/follower

• Don’t Open your Wallet

• Be Careful when shifting from Service Provider to Employer

Jordan (2012)

Principles for Maintaining Professional Boundaries

• Be Consistent • A word about social media

• Be a Role Model

• Be Accountable – Don’t be a martyr

Jordan (2012)

You know this stuff…

But do you know and understand yourself….

Understanding Yourself

• Why do you (really) do what you do?

• What motivates you?

Power

Control

Authority

Responsibility

Understanding Yourself

• Work – Life Balance…is it a problem with you?

• Do you love what you do?

• You’ve got to love what you do….

You’ve got to love what you do...

So…Work-Life Balance, Is that a thing?

• You know how to take care of yourself.

• You understand the complexity of helping

• You get the importance of loving what you.

• You are grown-ups – find balance!

('No one on their deathbed ever says they wish they had spent more time at the office." Arnold Zach

Work – Life Balance, Is that a thing?

Scott E. Fogo, MSW, ACSW, LCSW Vice President, Clinical Services and Outreach

Easter Seals Crossroads

4740 Kingsway Drive

Indianapolis, IN 46205

317.466.2001, x2231

sfogo@eastersealscrossroads.org