1 Burnt Toast: When Jamming Leads to Burnout John C. Thomas, Ph.D., Ph.D., CEAP Associate Professor of Counseling

2 What is stressful about being an EAP professional? What is stressful about being an EAP professional? What is stressful about working with business and industry? What is stressful about working with business and industry?

3 Not simply excessive stress A complex human reaction to on-going stress It is not so much a state or condition, but a process that can lead to impairment Occurs when the EAP’s inner resources are inadequate for managing tasks and situations What is Burnout?

4 What is Burnout? (cont) “A state of fatigue or frustration brought about by a devotion to a cause, a way of life, or a relationship that failed to produce the expected reward.” (Freudenberger) Characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and decreased sense of personal accomplishment (Maslach & Jackson)

5 Condition of feeling “wasted physically, emotionally, spiritually, interpersonally, and behaviorally (MacClusky & Ingersoll) An erosion of the spirit What is Burnout?

6 Burnout Formula High Ideals and Motivation Depletion of Spirit and Faith in our Capacity to make a Difference __ Burnout

7 Vicarious traumatization Vicarious traumatization Dealing with significant client pathology Dealing with significant client pathology One way intimacy and voyeuristic work One way intimacy and voyeuristic work Highly demanding profession (e.g., on call, ethical/legal) Highly demanding profession (e.g., on call, ethical/legal) Conflicting clinical needs and insurance benefits Conflicting clinical needs and insurance benefits Hazards of the EAP Professional Contributors Reputation assaults Reputation assaults Threat of lawsuits Threat of lawsuits Salary and perk issues Salary and perk issues Multiplicity of roles Multiplicity of roles Administration vs. clinical overload Administration vs. clinical overload Working alone / isolation Working alone / isolation Job security Job security Interruptions Interruptions

8 Job intensity (workload) Job intensity (workload) Administrative support Administrative support Feedback Feedback Social support from colleagues Social support from colleagues Confidence in leadership Confidence in leadership Adequacy of supervision Adequacy of supervision Hazards of the EAP Organizational Contributors Politics Politics Organizational climate Organizational climate Poor reward system Poor reward system Unfairness Unfairness Hierarchically control decision-making Hierarchically control decision-making Unethical Unethical

9 Fragile self-esteem Fragile self-esteem Need to rescue others Need to rescue others Perceived need for approval / acceptance Perceived need for approval / acceptance Conscientiousness Conscientiousness Attributional style Attributional style Hazards of the EAP Individual Vulnerability Contributors Pessimistic Pessimistic Lack of intimacy in personal life Lack of intimacy in personal life Workaholic mentality Workaholic mentality Confusion of role identity with self- image Confusion of role identity with self- image

10 Unresolved countertransference Unresolved countertransference Perceived control of work environment Perceived control of work environment Identification with clients Identification with clients Psychological magnification Psychological magnification Hazards of the EAP Cognitive Contributors Deriving too much self-esteem from work Deriving too much self-esteem from work Disparity between expectations and reality Disparity between expectations and reality Taking self too seriously Taking self too seriously Negativity Negativity

11 Inability to shut off therapeutic stance Inability to shut off therapeutic stance Interference from personal lives (balance) Interference from personal lives (balance) Poorly defined boundaries Poorly defined boundaries Time management problems Time management problems Poor social support Poor social support Poor coping strategies Poor coping strategies Hazards of the EAP Behavioral Contributors

12 On-going feelings of frustration On-going feelings of frustration Level of anger and irritability Level of anger and irritability Feelings associated with clients’ not getting better Feelings associated with clients’ not getting better Overwhelmed Overwhelmed Hazards of the EAP Emotional Contributors

13 Stages of Burnout Stress Arousal Burnout VulnerableExhaustion Energy Conservation

14 Stages of Burnout Stress Arousal Burnout VulnerableExhaustion Energy Conservation Irritable, Anxious, HBP, Increased Heart Rate Bruxism, Insomnia, Headaches, Forgetful, Poor Concentration,

15 Stages of Burnout Stress Arousal Burnout VulnerableExhaustion Energy Conservation Late for Work, Apathy, Procrastinate, Fatigue, Cynical, Resentful, Need 3 Day Weekends, Isolation, Drink More, Miss Deadlines

16 Stages of Burnout Stress Arousal Burnout VulnerableExhaustion Energy Conservation Chronic Sadness or Depression, Headaches, Mental Fatigue, Desire to “Drop Out”, GI Problems, Numb

17 Chronic fatigue Chronic fatigue Lower illness resistance Lower illness resistance Substance abuse Substance abuse Malaise Malaise GI problems GI problems Insomnia Insomnia Burnout Fallout Physical Fallout HBP HBP Tachycardia Tachycardia Cholesterol problems Cholesterol problems Headaches Headaches Exhaustion Exhaustion Long term to rebound Long term to rebound

18 Suppress emotion Suppress emotion Discouraged Discouraged Anxious Anxious Resentment Resentment Guilt / Shame Guilt / Shame Liability Liability Chronic sadness Chronic sadness Burnout Fallout Emotional Fallout Depression Depression Emotional exhaustion Emotional exhaustion Apathy Apathy Helplessness Helplessness Powerless Powerless Despair Despair

19 Cynicism Cynicism Sense of inefficiency Sense of inefficiency Sense of failure Sense of failure Stereotyping Stereotyping Loss of creativity Loss of creativity Resisting change Resisting change Depersonalizing clients Depersonalizing clients Burnout Fallout Cognitive Fallout Wanting to “drop out” Wanting to “drop out” Resistance in going to work Resistance in going to work Self-preoccupation Self-preoccupation Rigidity in thinking Rigidity in thinking Spiritual deadness Spiritual deadness Negativity Negativity

20 Complaining Complaining Blaming Blaming Late to work Late to work Absenteeism Absenteeism Withdrawing / Isolation Withdrawing / Isolation Clock watching Clock watching Postponing phone calls Postponing phone calls Burnout Fallout Behavioral Fallout Assuming additional responsibility Assuming additional responsibility Sacrifice life for work Sacrifice life for work Cannot say “no” Cannot say “no” Substance abuse Substance abuse Relationship problems Relationship problems Act out Act out

21 The Fallout of Burnout Frustration replaces Challenge Frustration replaces Challenge Fear replaces Courage Fear replaces Courage Cynicism replace Compassion Cynicism replace Compassion Carelessness replaces Caution Carelessness replaces Caution Convention replaces Creativity Convention replaces Creativity Compromise replaces Conviction Compromise replaces Conviction Disengagement replaces Collaboration Disengagement replaces Collaboration Depersonalization replaces Community Depersonalization replaces Community Liability replaces Control Liability replaces Control Exhaustion replaces Charge (Energy) Exhaustion replaces Charge (Energy) Apathy replaces Commitment (Enthusiasm) Apathy replaces Commitment (Enthusiasm) Ineffectiveness replaces Competence Ineffectiveness replaces Competence

22 Why Change Doesn’t Occur We automatically follow our “old unconscious maps” We automatically follow our “old unconscious maps” These old maps continue to drive behavior since These old maps continue to drive behavior since we have experience with them we have experience with them we do not have experience with alternate behavior we do not have experience with alternate behavior Burned-out people do not believe they can change or need to change Burned-out people do not believe they can change or need to change Low energy Low energy

23 Preventing Burnout: PREVENTIONS  = Probe (self-assess)  = Resourcefulness (commitment)  = Evolve (grow / counseling)  = Vitality (health)  = Entertainment (leisure / fun)  = Network (social support)  = Time-Out (relax & refuel)  = Influence (locus of control)  = Off-Load (margin)  = Needs Met

24 Personal Needs Acceptance Acceptance Approval Approval Affection Affection Achievement Achievement Autonomy Autonomy

25 Preventing Burnout: PREVENTIONS  = Probe (self-assess)  = Resourcefulness (commitment)  = Evolve (grow / counseling)  = Vitality (health)  = Entertainment (leisure / fun)  = Network (social support)  = Time-Out (relax & refuel)  = Influence (locus of control)  = Off-Load (margin)  = Needs Met  = Spirituality (faith)

26 Preventing Burnout at Work = Job Fit = Job Fit  = Orientation to the Future  = Balanced Decision- Making  = Workload Allocation  = Engagement with Work  = Legitimacy (fairness)  = Limit Job Spillover  = Network (community)  = Evaluate the Organization  = Supervisory Support  = System of Reward