Prevent Burnout and Maintain Well-Being continued from page 21
SPECIAL FOCUS
How to keep you rself — and your practice — thriving
Prevent Burnout and Maintain Well-Being continued from page 21
Because secondary trauma is important , it may be helpful to define the term . “ Vicarious trauma , while it is different from post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ), is associated with comparable symptoms , including re-experiencing and avoiding traumatic material and experiencing depressed mood ,” according to an article on “ Vicarious Trauma in Mental Health Care Providers ” that appeared in the September 2021 issue of the Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice .
“ Vicarious trauma differs from secondary trauma as it develops over a longer period due to gradual exposure to clients ’ traumatic events , while secondary trauma can result over a much shorter duration . The changes associated with vicarious trauma are more persistent and permanent , resulting in negative effects across areas of identity , self-perception , spirituality , and worldview ,” the article notes .
The risks associated with vicarious trauma are increased if the exposure to it is prolonged and when the counselor shares , in some way , in the traumatic experience . Over time , this exposure can have an impact on counselors ’ core beliefs , resulting in perceptions of lower self-efficacy , thereby diminishing a counselors ’ sense that they are able to provide meaningful care . The vibrancy , enthusiasm , and hope that tends to characterize an early counseling career can shift toward cynicism , frustration , and despair .
Compassion Fatigue
Left unchecked , the cumulative impact of exposure to a client ’ s trauma may lead to compassion fatigue , or a reduced ability to maintain psychological and emotional engagement with clients . In an article that looked at compassion fatigue among healthcare , emergency , and community service workers , Fiona Cocker , PhD , and Nerida Joss , PhD , developed a conceptual framework for compassion fatigue . They envision compassion fatigue as resulting from cumulative burnout coupled with secondary traumatic stress ( or vicarious trauma ). The challenges associated with these related threats can be debilitating — leading to impaired functioning , diminished effectiveness , and even resentment of the pervasive needs that clients present .
Full-blown compassion fatigue is characterized by feelings of exhaustion , irritability , negative coping behaviors ( such as increased substance use ), a reduced ability to feel sympathy or empathy , a diminished sense of enjoyment or satisfaction with work , increased absenteeism , and an impaired ability to make decisions and care for clients . LCMHCs who are at this point typically find it difficult to meet their own needs , let alone their clients ’. Compassion fatigue is one reason that the topic of selfcare appears so often in the education and preparation of aspiring counselors .
For professional counselors to flourish , we need to deliberately maintain lifebalance and continue to stay active in our routine engagement of self-care practices . Some LCMHCs might find the reminder of the importance of self-care rote or even patronizing , but its importance cannot be overstated . Regular and deliberate engagement in self-care practices helps LCMHCs to maintain a positive sense of meaning and efficacy . Appropriate and sufficient self-care enables counselors to continue to work with clients from a place of resilience and hope .
Strategies for Finding Hope in Hopeless Situations
Clinical mental health professionals will experience times when our important work feels challenging and even overwhelming . Most LCMHCs have had some clients who come to therapy with deep-rooted problems , traumatic pasts , or symptoms that seem resistant to treatment . Even in the darkest of moments , however , there is always a glimmer of hope that you can nurture and grow .
LCMHCs who cultivate our own sense of hope will be better equipped to support our clients and help them develop a more positive outlook . How ? By leveraging several key strategies that have been proven to be effective time and again .
1 . Looking Back at the Past : One way to cultivate hope is to reflect on past success stories . Every little victory , every effective approach , and every time our clients demonstrate resilience — these are all proof of the transformative power and strength of hope . When faced with a particularly challenging case , take a moment to reflect on your past successes .
Remembering times when you ’ ve made a real difference in someone ’ s life can reignite your own sense of hope and purpose , giving you the motivation you need to keep pushing forward . As the late Steve de Shazer , one of the founders of Solution-Focused Therapy , was known to say , “ Even small change is change .” And every small change deserves to be celebrated .
2 . Recognize and Cultivate Resilience and Post-Traumatic Growth : Recognizing and cultivating resilience — or the ability to bounce back after difficult life experiences — is another way to find hope . Throughout history , people have overcome incredible odds , even in the darkest times . One meta-analysis discerned that nearly 53 percent of individuals who go through a traumatic event experience a moderate to high degree of post-traumatic growth .
Often abbreviated PTG , posttraumatic growth is not the same as resilience . While developing resiliency can be an example of PTG , PTG takes place when a traumatic event leads to core beliefs being challenged and wres-
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22 The Advocate Magazine 2024 , Issue # 1 American Mental Health Counselors Association ( AMHCA ) www . amhca . org