In the face of fear and violence, there are many of us who continue to work for social justice against all odds. But at what cost? This workshop takes an in-depth look at the effects our work has on our professional and personal lives. Special attention will be given to vicarious victimization--taking on the pain and suffering of the people with whom we work. What do we do with the information that is given to us? This program will help caretakers identify, acknowledge, and validate that our work does have an impact on our lives.
I. Factors that Contribute to Stress of Caregivers
A. General factors of stress in the workplace
1. Too much work and too little time to do it
2. Inability to set your own pace or priorities
3. Nobody loves me or nobody notices me
4. Living in a stagnant pond
5. The blizzard of paper
6. "I don't get no money"
7. "I can't stand anybody around here"
B. Theoretical analyses of unique stress reactions of caregivers
1. Theory of Burn-Out
a. Burn-out is a term that has been thrown around carelessly by many professionals.
b. Contributing factors to the state of burn-out actually include:
I. Professional isolation
i. Emotional drain of providing continuing empathy
ii. Ambiguous successes
iii. Non-reciprocated giving and attentiveness
iv. Failure to live up to one's own goals
2. Theory of Countertransference
a. Countertransference
b. Contributing factors
I. Recent trauma in the caregiver's life
ii. Similarities between victim and caregiver
iii. Physical and emotional fatigue
Descriptions of coping processes used by professional helpers raise an important question: What methods of coping are to be advocated for the professional who works with victims of traumatic events? While we wrestle with the question, however, it is important that we do not delay helping our colleagues cope with the risk of vicarious trauma and "burnout" which comes with the job. Our actions in creating support systems may help prevent staff stress-related problems as well as improve quality of treatment. .