Self-Care: Preventing, Recognizing, and Recovering from Burnout Roosevelt Faulkner, ED.D. , LPC, NCC, DAPA Past President of TCA, Past President of MTCA Mari N. Carter,. ,B.S. , MA 2019 Counseling and Therapy Summit June-6-7, 2019 Nashville , Tennessee Importance of self-care; Self-care is an important aspect of resiliency . Being able to cope better with everyday stressors. Self-care helps to avoid compassion fatigue. Self-care helps one to meet their own physical and emotional needs when caring for others. Self-Care is important because our ethical code requires it. ACA Ethical Code A.1 Welfare of those served by counselors Stated that “the primary responsibility of counselors is to respect the dignity and to promote the welfare of the clients” Section C , Profession Responsibility, C2d, states that “ counselors continually monitor their effectiveness as professional and take steps to improve when necessary”. C2g, states that “ counselors are alert to signs of impairment from their own physical, mental, or emotional problems, refrain from offering or providing professional services”. F8b, states that “ counselors in training refrain from offering or providing counseling services when their physical, mental, or emotional problems are likely to harm a client or others.” “Should seek appropriate professional services for themselves”.

Agenda Self-Care Self-Care Codes of Ethnics Recognizing Signs of Burnout Factors that Lead Burnout Self-Care Paradox Preventions Impact on MHPC’s Summary Self-Care We will focus on the importance of self-care, a comparison of the codes of ethnics, how to recognize signs of burnout, the self- care paradox that we find ourselves in , preventions and a summary.

Objectives Definitions of self-care Codes of Ethics Recognizing Signs of Burnout Factors That Lead to Burnout Self- Care Paradox Impact on MHPC’s Preventions Objectives Self-Care

Definitions of Self-Care Self- Care is a collection of positive actions that can promote wellness and effective coping ( Wise & Barnett, 2016). Self- Care is one’s ability to take care of the activities of daily living (ADL). Self- Care is the activities and practices that are engaged in on a regular basis to maintain and enhance a person health and well-being (ACA, 2017). Self-Care This includes positive practices, mindful attention to one’s physical, emotional, and spiritual selves.

Self – Care Research Self- Care O’Halloran, Theresa & Linton, Jeremy (2000), stated that “wellness is a concept that counselors often focus on more readily for clients than ourselves”. Thomas, Denis A. & Morris, Melanie H. (2017),stated that “most counselors have knowledge about self-care and convey the importance to others, may not be translated into self-care action”. (Moffatt, Gregory, Counseling Today, August, 2018) Self- Care

Codes of Ethics Self- Care “Psychologist refrain from initiating any activity , when they know or should know that there personal problems will prevent them performing their work” (APA, 2016) “Recognize that their effectiveness is dependent on their own mental and physical health or any mental ,emotional, or physical health problem, compromise sound judgment…..seek professional assistance to determine whether to limit, suspend or terminate services to their clients (AMHCA, 2015). “Counselor monitor themselves for signs of impairment…….refrain from offering or providing professional services when impaired (ACA, 2014) Self- Care

Recognizing Signs of Burnout Self- Care Burnout is associated with workplace climate, case load and severity of client symptoms (Acker, 2011; Sprang, 2010; Thompson et al., 2014) Between 21% and 61% of mental health practitioners experience signs of burnout (Morse et al, 2010).

Emotional Exhaustion Feeling completely drained emotional and physically. Feeling overextended, unable to feel compassion for clients and feeling unable to meet demands of the workplace. Focus more on work.

Depersonalization Viewing the client as a case and not as a person. The process by which the provider distance themselves from the client to prevent emotional fatigue (Maslach, Jackson & Lieter, 1997). No longer see themselves or others as valuable.

Decreased sense of accomplishment Feels that whatever is done won’t make a difference. Feelings of ineffectiveness or the lack of personal accomplishment. A negative sense of personal and career worth. Neglecting their needs.

Feeling empty on the inside. Lack of energy Feeling empty on the inside. Lack of energy. Engage in activities that may harmful or inappropriate. Inner Emptiness

Recognizing Signs of Burnout (cont.) A decrease level of involvement with friends and family. Failure to engage in social activities. Instances of tardiness or absenteeism. Self-Care

Factors that Lead to Burnout Loss of control. Unrealistic caseload. Lack of appropriate rewards. Loss of a sense of positive connection with others. Conflict between values. (ACP Hospitalist, June ,2018) Self-Care

Factors That Lead to Burnout (Cont.) Inadequate supervision Poor peer support Heavy caseload (Ohrt & Sharp, Counseling Today, 2018) Self-Care

Self-Care Paradox Self-Care Occurs when we emphasize the importance of self-care to our clients and we are trained to take care of ourselves. Our self- confidence allows us to believe that crisis wouldn’t knock at our door. Such as divorce, death of a loved one, loss of a job, and chronic mental health issues. (Moffatt, G., 2018) Self-Care Implies that counselors sacrifice their self-care for the self-care of the client.

Impact on MHPC’s Self -Care Depression/Suicide Substance abuse/ addiction Decreased productivity Loss of License Personal Life Compassion fatigue (One Beacon Insurance Group, 2015) Impact on the Profession Unhealthy MPHC, Unhealthy client Client’s safety suffers Quality of care suffers Increased errors Decreased client satisfaction Loss in revenue

Compassion Fatigue is defined as: Emotional strain of exposure to working with individuals who've suffered/suffering from effects of traumatic events Different from burnout - emotional exhaustion/withdrawal resting from increased workload and/or institutional stress, not trauma related (American Institute of Stress, www.stress.org) Self-Care

Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue: Sleep disturbance Isolation Depression Loss of hope Anger/irritability Behavior/judgement impairment Loss of self worth Emotional intensity increases

Self-Care: Preventions Mindfulness exercises Physical exercise Getting into nature/outdoors Peer support group

Preventions (cont.) Engage in things that brings joy and relieve stress. Take time out of the day and not engage in helping related work. Explore or engage in a hobby. Self - Care

Preventions (cont.) Self-Care Take time for self. Avoid taking on extra clients. Reflect on your personal well-being. Maintain supervision regularly. Self-Care

Summary Self-Care is essential for the well-being of the professional mental health counselors when caring for others. Mental Health Counselors can teach self-care to their clients, but mental health counselors should practice or apply self-care to themselves.

References Andreula, T.J.,( April, 2012),“Counselor Burnout: A Recognizable and Preventable Condition Implication for Mental Health Professional”, Clinically Psyched “Beating Burnout” (June, 2018), ACP Hospitalist Corey, G., Muratori, M., Austin, J. T. ,& Austin, J.A., (2018),Counselor Self- Care, American Counseling Association Self-Care

References (cont.) Self-Care Melchoir, S., & Gomez Beane, D., (June 2018), “Self-Care for Activist Counselor”, Volume 60, Number 12 Counseling Today Meyers, L., (February, 2012) “ Stumbling Blocks to Counselor Self-Care”, Counseling Today, Moffatt, G. K., (August, 2018 ), “ The Hurting Counselor”,, Volume 61, Number 2, Counseling Today, “Professional Roundup: Burnout In Mental Health Providers”, Practice Update, (January, 2018) Self-Care Application: Mindfulness Exercises www.https://youtube/zsCVqFr6j1g Self-Care

Recognizing Signs of Burnout Emotional exhaustion, feeling completely drained both mentally and physical. Depersonalization, start viewing the client as a case and not as a person. A decreased sense of accomplishments, feels that whatever is done won’t make a difference Vicarious Traumatization or compassion fatigue, occurs when one is exposed to the client’s trauma. Self-Care