VCA Presentation

Counselor Stress Management Workshop

“Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness”

-Richard Carlson

Presented at Virginia Counselor’s Association Fall 2009 Conference

DISCUSSION

QUESTIONSWHAT IS IT MEANT BY COUNSELOR

WELLNESS?

WHY IS IT ESSENTIAL FOR US AS COUNSELORS TO PRIORITIZE OUR OWN

WELLNESS?

WHY IS STRESS MANAGEMENT IMPORTANT FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS?

What are High Touch Hazards?*

characteristics of professionals in the helping fields which make them more susceptible to burnout

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*From Preventing Counselor Impairment (2003)

CURRENT STATISTICS

Privat

e

Colle

ge

K-12

Hospi

tal

Agen

cy

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

23.571.6

261.5

32 41.1

COUNSELOR CASELOADS

Mean Caseload

From www.counselorwellness.com, 2008

% OF HIGH RISK CASELOADS

Private College K-12 Hospital Agency

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

34.3

19.324.4

52 52.2

12.18.8

32.6

2.8

22.4

TraumaSelf-Injurious

From www.counselorwellness.com, 2008

BURNOUT

WHAT THE STUDIES SHOW

STRESS

JOB SATISFACTION


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)


Undefined job boundaries can lead to taking on a large amount of responsibilities and can lead to burnout (Butler & Constantine 2006)

Burnout is related to three characteristics: personality, demographic, and environmental/organizational factors (Brewer & Clippard 2002)

PERSONALITYIntroversionSensitivityTrouble with appropriate boundaries Taking home work issues and burdens

DEMOGRAPHICGenderRaceMarital StatusAgeYears of Experience

ENVIRONMENTALWorkloadWork environmentPeer & Supervisor Support

WHAT PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES DO COUNSELORS HAVE?

ACA TASKFORCE ON COUNSELOR WELLNESS & IMPAIRMENT

Established in 2003 by Governing Council of the American Counseling Association

Goal is to educate counselors on: Impairment Securing quality resources Intervention & treatment of the impaired Advocacy on state and national levels

Education serves to remind counselors of their knowledge on stress and self-care and help them find their vulnerabilities and offer strategies to self improve

From www.counseling.org/wellness_taskforce

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

STRESS TECHNIQUES

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS OF STRESS

SWEATING DIFFICULTY BREATHING RAPID HEARTBEAT HEADACHES STOMACH PROBLEMS FATIGUE MUSCLE TENSION JUMPINESS INSOMNIA LACK OF COORDINATION

SHORT RELAXATION Correct Breathing: Learn to always breath using the diaphragm. Let the

breath reach the bottom of the lungs and let the chest and shoulders relax. High, shallow chest breathing is stressful and gives messages of stress to the brain.

Stretching: Gently roll your head and shoulders many times a day. Also, gently stretch other areas of the body that may need it.

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.

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

PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION

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

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

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_relief_meditation_yoga_relaxation.htm

NUTRITION & STRESS

BE SMART FROM THE START, MAKE WISE CHOICES WHEN IT COMES TO

NUTRITION

EAT YOUR WAY TO STRESS-FREE Complex Carbs(bread, pasta, broccoli, potatoes,

corn, bananas) Magnesium(leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds,

whole grains) Vitamin B6(salmon, light meat chicken,

avocado) Vitamin C(sweet red peppers, oranges,

brussels sprouts) Calcium

(spinach, kale, white and pinto beans)

AVOID FOODS THAT ARE HIGH IN

Sugar

(causes blood sugar level to spike then crash)

Caffeine

(raises stress hormone and can lead to insomnia &

dehydration)

Sodium

(affects blood pressure)

PERKY SLUGGISH

The Stress Watchers Diet; www.associatecontent.com

HOW TO IMPLEMENT A SELF-CARE PROGRAM

a holistic approach

“It is not possible to give to others what you do not possess” Gerald Corey

DEVELOPING A “CULTURE OF WELLNESS”

Ongoing assessment of personal wellness

Assessment of workplace wellness

Developing concrete planBuilding Supportive professional

networksSharing wellness information

From www.counselorwellness.com/resources

HANDOUTSSTRESS REACTION INVENTORY*SELF-CARE ASSESSMENT*

assessment focuses on the wellness activities in which counselors may participate across several domains of wellness (physical, psychological, spiritual, and professional)

PROFESSIONAL QUALITY OF LIFE*assessment measures compassion fatigue,

compassion satisfaction, vicarious traumatization, and potential for burnout in counselors

LIFE PIE EXERCISE*

*http://www.counseling.org/wellness_taskforce/tf_history.htm

TEN MOST HELPFUL ACTIVITES THAT PROMOTE WELLNESS

1) Discussing cases with colleagues

2) Attending workshops

3) Spending time with family or friends

4) Travel, vacations, hobbies, and movies

5) Talking with colleagues between sessions

6) Socializing

From www.counseling.org/wellness_taskforce/tf_wellness_strategies

TEN MOST HELPFUL ACTIVITES THAT PROMOTE WELLNESS

7) Exercise

8) Limiting case load

9) Developing spiritual life

10) Receiving supervision


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


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


IN CONCLUSION• MONITOR YOUR “SHOULD” STATEMENTS

• REFRAME NEGATIVE THOUGHTS

• TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF

• MAKE YOURSELF A STRESS RELIEF KIT

• SEEK SOCIAL SUPPORT TO KEEP YOUR MENTAL HEALTH ON TRACK

• TAKE CARE OF YOUR MOST IMPORTANT INSTRUMENT….YOU!

SOURCESAmerican Counseling Association. (2009). Taking steps for a mentally

healthier you. Counseling Corner. Alexandria, VA: AuthorAmerican Counseling Association. (2008). ACA’s Taskforce on Counselor Impairment and Wellness. Retrieved April 14, 2009. www.counseling.org/wellness_taskforce/index.htmAmerican Counseling Association. (2008). Replenish the Well: An Experience in Self-Care.

Retrieved April 14, 2009. www.counseling.org/wellness_taskforce/PDF/ACA_taskforce_lifepie.pdfAmerican School Counseling Association. (2004). Ethical standards for school counselors. Retrieved April 15, 2009. http://www.schoolcounselor.org/content.asp?contentid=173Brewer, E.W., Clippart, L.F. (2002) Burnout and job satisfaction among student support

services personnel. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 13(2), 169-186.Bryant, R.M., Constantine, M.G (2006). Multiple role balance, job satisfaction, and life

satisfaction in women school counselors [Electronic version]. Professional School Counseling Journal. Butler, S.K., Constantine, M.G. (2005) Collective self-esteem and burnout in professional

school counselors. Professional School Counseling, 9 (1), 55-62.Creating Counselor Wellness. (2008). Retrieved October 20, 2009. www.counselorwellness.comLambie. G.W. (2007) The contribution of ego development level to burnout in school

counselors: Implications for professional school counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 85, 82-88Lawson, G., Venart, B., (2003). Preventing counselor impairment: vulnerability, wellness, and resilience. American Counselor Association’s Task Force.

Documents

VCA Presentation