Psychotherapist Burnout
Burnout is a work-related stress that results from job demands. For psychotherapists, burnout can be of particular concern because of the emotional nature of the relationship between caregivers and their clients. This is especially true as therapy is uniquely characterized by common factors (empathy, alliance, etc.,) which can be emotionally demanding and grueling work. Burnout is defined as a “syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment” (Lee, Lim, Yang and Lee, 2011). Therefore, it is imperative that a clinician avoid burnout as the effects may influence the quality of the service they provide to their clients (Lee, et al., 2011).
Managing Major Professional …show more content…
The deeply caring and committed aspect of a therapist can leave a clinician vulnerable to emotional trauma. Emotional trauma can be experienced by a therapist through vicarious traumatization, countertransference, compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress (Skovholt & Trotter-Mathison, 2011).
Vicarious traumatization, or secondary trauma, is when a practitioner experiences the emotional pain and struggle of a client as if it was their own. In addition, clients can be hostile to the therapist due to the nature of their trauma and hurt the very ones who are trying to help. Countertransference is the emotional reaction of the therapist to the client’s role. Finally, compassion fatigue is the exhaustion, emotional distress, or indifference resulting from the endless demands of caring for others.
The most frightening form of trauma a psychotherapist can face is physical trauma. Physical trauma is more common that one might think. As Skovholt & Trotter-Mathison (2011) …show more content…
A main factor contributing to this assumption is that a therapist often provides endless caring without the assurances of success such as clear improvement in the client’s life. This can leave a therapist feeling discouraged and hopeless.
In this analysis of psychotherapist burnout, the authors were careful to point out the differences between “burnout” and “distress.” It was noted that, “burnout comprises work related stress and long-term loss of the professional role, while distress consists of relatively mild symptoms that cause partially impaired professional functioning” (Lee et al., 2011). This clarification is important as a psychotherapist’s role is inherently vulnerable and susceptible to burnout defined as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment (Lee, et al., 2011).
Antecedents and Consequences of
Burnout is a work-related stress that results from job demands. For psychotherapists, burnout can be of particular concern because of the emotional nature of the relationship between caregivers and their clients. This is especially true as therapy is uniquely characterized by common factors (empathy, alliance, etc.,) which can be emotionally demanding and grueling work. Burnout is defined as a “syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment” (Lee, Lim, Yang and Lee, 2011). Therefore, it is imperative that a clinician avoid burnout as the effects may influence the quality of the service they provide to their clients (Lee, et al., 2011).
Managing Major Professional …show more content…
The deeply caring and committed aspect of a therapist can leave a clinician vulnerable to emotional trauma. Emotional trauma can be experienced by a therapist through vicarious traumatization, countertransference, compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress (Skovholt & Trotter-Mathison, 2011).
Vicarious traumatization, or secondary trauma, is when a practitioner experiences the emotional pain and struggle of a client as if it was their own. In addition, clients can be hostile to the therapist due to the nature of their trauma and hurt the very ones who are trying to help. Countertransference is the emotional reaction of the therapist to the client’s role. Finally, compassion fatigue is the exhaustion, emotional distress, or indifference resulting from the endless demands of caring for others.
The most frightening form of trauma a psychotherapist can face is physical trauma. Physical trauma is more common that one might think. As Skovholt & Trotter-Mathison (2011) …show more content…
A main factor contributing to this assumption is that a therapist often provides endless caring without the assurances of success such as clear improvement in the client’s life. This can leave a therapist feeling discouraged and hopeless.
In this analysis of psychotherapist burnout, the authors were careful to point out the differences between “burnout” and “distress.” It was noted that, “burnout comprises work related stress and long-term loss of the professional role, while distress consists of relatively mild symptoms that cause partially impaired professional functioning” (Lee et al., 2011). This clarification is important as a psychotherapist’s role is inherently vulnerable and susceptible to burnout defined as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment (Lee, et al., 2011).
Antecedents and Consequences of