1. Counselor Stress Management Workshop Presented at Virginia Counselor’s Association Fall 2009 Conference “Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness” -Richard Carlson
2. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS WHAT IS IT MEANT BY COUNSELOR WELLNESS? WHY IS IT ESSENTIAL FOR US AS COUNSELORS TO PRIORITIZE OUR OWN WELLNESS?
3. WHY IS STRESS MANAGEMENT IMPORTANT FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS? Considered a vulnerable profession due to the nature of work in dealing with intimate exposure of student’s struggles and suffering. Also exposure to “high touch hazards” Unsolvable problems that have to be solved Students not having resources or skills to meet goals Inability to say “no” Constant empathy and interpersonal sensitivity What are High Touch Hazards?* characteristics of professionals in the helping fields which make them more susceptible to burnout *From Preventing Counselor Impairment (2003)
7. WHAT THE STUDIES SHOW School counselors endorsed the highest role ambiguity and role conflict scores and the second highest negative mental health scores (Pierson-Hubeny & Archambault 1987) School counselors ranked highest in scores for emotional exhaustion, reduced personal accomplishment, and depersonalization (Butler & Constantine 2005) High levels of burnout are associated with low levels of job satisfaction, little organizational commitment, attrition , and professionals wanting to quit the counseling field (Lambie 2007)
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9. Burnout is related to three characteristics: personality, demographic, and environmental/organizational factors (Brewer & Clippard 2002)PERSONALITY Introversion Sensitivity Trouble with appropriate boundaries Taking home work issues and burdens DEMOGRAPHIC Gender Race Marital Status Age Years of Experience ENVIRONMENTAL Workload Work environment Peer & Supervisor Support
16. Education serves to remind counselors of their knowledge on stress and self-care and help them find their vulnerabilities and offer strategies to self improveFrom www.counseling.org/wellness_taskforce
17. ACA TASKFORCE ON WELLNESS & IMPAIRMENT Compassion fatigue: A feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by suffering or misfortune Vicarious traumatization: A cumulative process of change in the helpers' inner experience that happens through empathic connection with clients Burn-out:A state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by long-term involvement in emotionally demanding situations 10% of counselors, or roughly 6,000 members that are impaired at any given time Manifestations of impairment include: Burnout Compassion fatigue Vicarious traumatization Depression, anxiety, other mental health conditions Over-involvement and overwork From www.counseling.org/wellness_taskforce
29. Stretching: Gently roll your head and shoulders many times a day. Also, gently stretch other areas of the body that may need it.
30. Tense-relax Muscles:Tighten the muscles you want to relax and feel the tension. Let the muscles become loose and limp and feel the relaxation.
31. Jaw Drop: Be aware of any tightness in your jaw. Allow your jaw to loosen by separating your teeth. From http://www.counseling.colostate.edu/mental-health/stress-management/documents/Short%20Relaxation%20Techniques.pdf
32. PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION Loosen your clothing, take off your shoes, and get comfortable. Take a few minutes to relax, breathing in and out in slow, deep breaths. When you’re relaxed and ready to start, shift your attention to your right foot. Take a moment to focus on the way it feels. Slowly tense the muscles in your right foot, squeezing as tightly as you can. Hold for a count of 10. Relax your right foot. Focus on the tension flowing away and the way your foot feels as it becomes limp and loose. Stay in this relaxed state for a moment, breathing deeply and slowly. When you’re ready, shift your attention to your left foot. Follow the same sequence of muscle tension and release. Move slowly up through your body — legs, abdomen, back, neck, face — contracting and relaxing the muscle groups as you go Right foot Left foot Right calf Left calf Right thigh Left thigh Hips and buttocks Stomach Chest Back Right arm and hand Left arm and hand Neck and shoulders Face http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_relief_meditation_yoga_relaxation.htm
43. assessment focuses on the wellness activities in which counselors may participate across several domains of wellness (physical, psychological, spiritual, and professional)
57. WELLNESS ACTIVITIES MEDITATION JOURNALING HOBBIES VOLUNTEERING SEEING A MOVIE LAUGHING TALKING TO FRIENDS SEEING A COUNSELOR GIVING SELF PERMISSION TO CRY COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES EMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES From www.counseling.org/wellness_taskforce/tf_wellness_strategies
58. WELLNESS ACTIVITIES DRINK LOTS OF WATER EAT REGULAR MEALS GET A MASSAGE TURN OFF CELL PHONE RELFECTION GARDENING SPEND TIME OUTDOORS CONNECT WITH SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES From www.counseling.org/wellness_taskforce/tf_wellness_strategies
