Gosh, so much seems to have come in to the group at once!
There is a dictionary definition which defines the verb 'burn out' as to
"fail wear out, or become exhausted by making excessive demands on energy,
strength, or resources"
Whatever model used to deal with 'burn-out', I don't agree with Gerald
(welcome back by the way, hope you are feeling better), that
psychoanalysis, would be my preferred method. There are many other just as
respected and proved approaches/models.
My experience to date is this. having worked with, and held training
courses for various public sector staff over a number of years i.e.
Probation, Social Services, Drug Projects, Voluntary organisations etc., I
have found that a number of these staff, (not all thank goodness), say that
not enough attention is given to them receiving adequate emotional support
and personal supervision. Not just supervision around their work 'role' but
with coping the very often traumatic client problems that arise, and the
emotional effect on them.
I am sure everyone can relate to this. You may start the day off feeling OK
with not any particular problems. You go into work and see your first
client.
Let us say they are very depressed. They unload all this on you, sometimes
that's all they want to do, they don't need advice or feedback.
At the end of the hour or whatever, they say 'thanks for that' and off they
go.
(I am being very simplistic here). You then proceed to see another 6-8
clients say all unloading various emotional problems on you. You suddenly
start to feel depressed yourself.
This goes on day after day. Each time we are taking on a little part of
this negative emotional 'baggage' it is hardly suprising that we in the
'people business' burn out' fast.
It should be mandatory that a great deal of emotional support/supervision
is built into this sort of work.In some places it is, but not often.
On the other side of the coin, I agree with Gerald when he says ' There are
far too many disturbed workers around for my liking'. More safeguards
should be built in to protect clients as well as workers.
A question to ask is 'why do we do what we do?" If there was'nt something
in it for us we would'nt do it.
Eric, to answer your question to Craig my surname is Warren-Holland.
He kindly posted something about me on http://www.tc-of.net/webex/webex6.htm
I would appreciate knowing who you are too.
Which brings me to my final response (I promise to shut up after this!).
Craig, I think having introductions is a good idea. Once people have done
this, is there not somwhere we can go and look at the 'potted CV' of people
currently in the group to keep us up to date ? It is important to welcome
people to the group. On that note, welcome Barnaby.
Warmest wishes
Dave
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