Controlling Compassion Fa/gue

Transcription

1 Controlling Compassion Fa/gue Presenta/on for Student Affairs Staff Development Presented by: Shaney McCoy, CMHC Weber State University Counseling & Psychological Services Center

2 What is Compassion Fa/gue? "...the overall experience of emo$onal and physical fa$gue that social service professionals experience due to the chronic use of empathy when trea/ng pa/ents who are suffering in some way." (Newell & MacNeil, 2010)

3 Who is Affected by Compassion Fa/gue? Ini/al focus of studies: Nurses Emergency Responders Mental health professionals Social Workers Now recognized in: Doctors and other health care providers Veterinarians and other animal care providers Volunteers Jus/ce system employees Prison workers Others Like Student Affairs staff members!

4 Components of Compassion Fa/gue Burnout Secondary Trauma/c Stress (CF construct valida/on: Boscarino et al, 2004)

5 Burnout a state of physical, emo/onal, psychological, and spiritual exhaus/on resul/ng from chronic exposure to (or prac/ce with) popula/ons that are vulnerable or suffering. (Pines and Aronson, 1998)

6 Secondary Trauma/c Stress Nearly iden/cal to PTSD, but trauma is not experienced first- hand. May include: Avoidance Intrusive thoughts Flashbacks/dreams Physiologic distress at internal or external cues Increased arousal (sleep difficul/es, irritability, hypervigilance, concentra/on problems, increased startle response) (CF construct valida/on: Boscarino et al, 2004)

7 Look familiar?

8 What does CF feel like? Physical Signs and Symptoms Physical exhaustion Insomnia or hypersomnia Headaches/migraines Increased susceptibility to illness Somatization and hypochondria Behavioral Signs and Symptoms Increased use of alcohol and drugs Other addictions Absenteeism Anger and irritability Exaggerated sense of responsibility Avoidance of clients Impaired ability to make decisions Forgetfulness Problems in personal relationships Compromised care for clients The silencing response Psychological Signs and Symptoms Emotional exhaustion Distancing Negative self-image Depression Reduced ability to feel sympathy and empathy Cynicism and embitterment Resentment Dread of working with certain clients Feeling of helplessness Diminished sense of enjoyment in volunteering Depersonalization Disruption of world view, heightened anxiety, irrational fears Increased sense of personal vulnerability Inability to tolerate strong feelings Problems with intimacy Hypervigilance Intrusive imagery Hypersensitivity to emotionally charged stimuli Insensitivity to emotional material Loss of hope Difficulty separating personal and professional lives Failure to nurture and develop non-professional aspects of life (Adapted from Mathieu, 2012)

9 Experiences I ll tell you mine if you ll tell me yours

10 Personal Risk Factors Those who have enormous capacity for feeling and expressing empathy tend to be more at risk of compassion stress. (Figley, 1995) The single largest risk factor for developing professional burnout is human service work in general. (Newell & MacNeil, 2010)

11 Personal Risk Factors Empathy: We re hardwired!

12 So, I m at risk what now? Awareness Self- Care Team Support

13 Direct witness of another s trauma, or bearing witness through listening to their narra/ve Physical sensa/ons Self- Care Same experiences, now lighter and filtered of deleterious effects.

14 Self- Care Ideas Limit exposure to empathic pulls (media, etc.) Take breaks Debrief with team, friends, family Balance work, school, exercise, play, nutri/on, spirituality, sleep, volunteering Engage in counseling Create ritual around ending shiks Write in a journal U/lize image manipula/on Others ideas?

15 Remember Apply your own oxygen mask before amemp/ng to help others!

16 Suppor/ng Your Team Don t bury your head in the sand! Acknowledge that compassion fa/gue is not only possible, but PROBABLE, when there are heavy demands on our empathic responses.

17 Suppor/ng Your Team Let your team members know they can talk to you, each other or professionals without fear of s/gma.

18 Suppor/ng Your Team Reduce sense of powerlessness in team members.

19 Suppor/ng Your Team Debriefing is important! But it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Create a team culture that supports Limited Impact Debriefing. Be aware of the need to debrief Offer a fair warning Obtain consent Disclose with inten/on

20 Discussion What might you do differently in the future?

21 Thank You for All You Do! Any ques/ons?

22 Reading Resources Help for the Helper: The Psychophysiology of Compassion Fa$gue and Vicarious Trauma (Babeme Rothschild) The Compassion Fa$gue Workbook (Francoise Mathieu) Transforming the Pain: A Workbook on Vicarious Trauma$za$on (Laurie Pearlman) Trea$ng Compassion Fa$gue (Charles Figley)

23 References Boscarino, J.A., Figley, C.R, Adams, R.E. (2004). Compassion fa/gue following the September 11 terrorist amacks: A study of secondary trauma among New York City social workers. Interna$onal Journal of Emergency Mental Health, 6(2), Figley, C.R. (1995). Compassion fa/gue as secondary trauma/c stress disorder: An overview (chapter 1, pp 1-20) in book: Compassion Fa/gue: coping with secondary trauma/c stress in those who treat the trauma/zed, edited by Figley; from Brunner/Mazel Psychosocial Stress Series, no. 23) Mathieu, F. (2012). The compassion fa$gue workbook: Crea$ve tools for transforming compassion fa$gue and vicarious trauma$za$on. New York: Routledge. Newell, Jason M. & MacNeil, Gordon A. (2010). Professional Burnout, Vicarious Trauma, Secondary Trauma/c Stress, and Compassion Fa/gue: A Review of Theore/cal Terms, Risk Factors, and Preven/ve Methods for Clinicians and Researchers. Best Prac$ces in Mental Health: An Interna$onal Journal, Vol 6(2), Pearlman, L. A., & Saakvitne, K. (1995). Trauma and the therapist:countertransference and vicarious trauma$za$on in psychotherapy with incest survivors. New York: W. W. Norton. Pines, A., Aronson, E. (1988). Career burnout: Causes and cures. New York: Free Press Rothschild, B. (2006). Help for the Helper. NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. Stamm, B.H. (2010). The Concise ProQOL Manual, 2nd Ed. Pocatello, ID:ProQOL.org.

24 Making Effective Referrals to the Counseling and Psychological Services Center Dianna Abel, Ph.D., Director

25 I. Self-Awareness II. Symptom Awareness III. Making the Referral IV. Crisis Intervention at CPSC

26 Self- Awareness Feelings Worry, preoccupa/on Suspicion, doubt Uneasiness, hesitance Anxiety, dread Fear Behaviors Frequent consulta/on Boundary stretching Avoidance Safety measures

27 Symptom Awareness Academic/Employment Concerns Uncharacteris/cally poor work Excessive absences Difficulty concentra/ng Poor or un/mely follow- through Disrup/ve behavior Alarming content in wrimen work

28 Symptom Awareness Interpersonal Concerns Difficulty gevng along with others Social isola/on or awkwardness Extreme defensiveness, externaliza/on Boundary viola/ons: Inappropriate disclosures regarding personal problems Failure to operate within expected role structures Excessive support- seeking Time Resources Assistance

29 Symptom Awareness Behavioral Concerns Irritability, agita/on, restlessness Intense, drama/c, or vola/le emo/on Fa/gue Anhedonia: Loss of interest in pleasurable ac/vi/es Changes in personal hygiene Inappropriate responses and/or disjointed thoughts Physical harm to self Suicidal/homicidal thoughts or plans

30 Making the Referral If you re concerned about a student Trust your gut Share your observa/ons I ve no/ced Express your concerns I m concerned that you re struggling and could use a different kind of help. Normalize the student s experience Lots of students struggle with these issues. Refer to CPSC Fortunately, help is available right here on campus!

31 Crisis Interven;on at CPSC Referring a student in crisis Determining level of need Scheduling the appointment Understanding confiden/ality Following up Sharing vs. receiving Taking care of yourself Ques/ons?

32 Thank you! Dianna Abel, Ph.D., Director