Chapter Sixteen: Human Services Workers in Crisis: Burnout, Vicarious Traumatization, and Compassion Fatigue Helping Professionals: Prime Candidates Nature of the job is to be intensely involved with people who are in need of assistance Recipe for burnout: High levels of motivation Idealistic Expectation that their work will give their life a sense of meaning Many helping professions have historically low success rates Human service field is becoming more difficult Defining Burnout Historical “Burned out” physically, emotionally, spiritually, interpersonally, and behaviorally to the point of exhaustion Herbert Freudenberger (1974, 1975) Described young, idealistic volunteers working in alternative health-care settings who started to look and act worse than many of their clients Burnout roots from the 1970s consists of the following: Lost energy to the point of exhaustion Lost enthusiasm to the point of absolute indifference Passion is replaced by cynicism Complete lack of confidence that your work is having any positive impact Dynamics of Burnout Foundation Blocks of Burnout Role ambiguity Role conflict Role overload Inconsequentiality Isolation Autonomy Symptoms of Burnout Behavioral Physical Interpersonal Attitudinal Dynamics of Burnout Cont Stages of Burnout Enthusiasm Stagnation Frustration Apathy The Culpability of Organizations Much of the responsibility lies with the employer Employee’s influence on policy and procedures Employee’s level of autonomy Employee’s feeling of appreciation Employers should provide consultation and supervision Employers should offer support, social connection, and self-care opportunities Self-Recognition of Burnout NO ONE IS IMMUNE! Everyone Typical has a blind spot MO is to increase effort (actually increases the problem) rather than attempting to change the situation Intervention Strategies Assessment Burnout Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction Work Environment Intervention Through Training Intervention With the Organization Burnout-Proofing an Agency Social Support Systems Support Groups The Individual and the Organization Self-Care Private Practitioners and Burnout Isolation Business Concerns Financial Client base Marketing services Maintaining Difficult a Public Presence Work Schedule Evenings Weekends Few vacations INTERVENTION WITH THE INDIVIDUAL Direct Action Palliative (quick fix) Action BASIC IDS Behavior Affect Sensation Imagery Cognition Interpersonal relationships Drugs/biology Setting ... change the situation Intervention Strategies Assessment Burnout Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction Work Environment Intervention Through Training Intervention With the Organization... services Maintaining Difficult a Public Presence Work Schedule Evenings Weekends Few vacations INTERVENTION WITH THE INDIVIDUAL Direct Action Palliative (quick fix) Action BASIC IDS Behavior