Counseling Commons^™

Adverse And Positive Childhood Experiences Of Clinical Mental Health Counselors As Predictors Of Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, And Secondary Traumatic Stress, Eric M. Brown, Kristy L. Carlisle, Melanie Burgess, Jacob Clark, Ariel Hutcheon

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Despite an emphasis on self-care to avoid burnout and increase compassion satisfaction within the counseling profession, there is a dearth of research on the developmental experiences of counselors that may increase the likelihood of burnout. We examined the impact of mental health counselors’ (N = 140) experiences of adverse childhood experiences and positive childhood experiences on their present rates of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. We used a cross-sectional, non-experimental correlational design and reported descriptive statistics as well as results of multiple regression models. Results indicated significant relationships among counselors’ rates of adverse childhood experiences, positive childhood experiences, …

The Personal And Professional Impact Of Covid-19 On School Counselors: An Exploratory Study., Taryn Akgul, Jessica Brown, Lisa Karch

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

School Counselors historically have faced multiple challenges that impact their lives personally and professionally. Due to numerous and competing demands, school counselors are likely to experience a plethora of stressors including role conflict, high student to school counselor ratios, minimal support, and increasing mental health needs of students. The COVID 19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges by changing and adding to the responsibilities of school counselors, reducing access to appropriate support systems, and increasing students’ needs for counseling services. This qualitative, exploratory study utilized phenomenological inquiry to examine the impact of these challenges on school counselors’ personal and professional lives. The …

Rethinking Recidivism: Considerations For Counselors Working With Adult Clients In Sex Offender Treatment, Claire Richards

Counselor Education Capstones

Sex offender treatment is often court ordered and part of conditional release for individuals who have been convicted of harmful sexual acts. Counselors working with this population have an important role in terms of supporting and addressing the needs of their clients, but also in terms of public safety. A cursory exploration of this treatment includes an overview of the role that risk/protective factors documented through assessments have on outcomes, the impact of restrictions regarding conditional release, and how the counselors are both impacted by and integral to this field. Counselors who work with this demographic are presented with informed …

Ameliorating Stress And Burnout Among Professionals Who Work With Migrants And Refugees, Mark Lusk, Samuel Terrazas

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

Professionals and volunteers who work with refugees and forced migrants experience burnout and secondary stress as a result of exposure to the trauma and adversities confronted by their clients. A pilot project aimed at reducing these problems through the use of group discussion, sharing, guided movement, relaxation techniques, and mindfulness was found to reduce burnout and secondary traumatic stress among participants.

Administrative Supervision And Counselor Burnout, Emily Belsito

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mental health counselors continue to experience burnout due to their roles and the nature of their work. The supervisory working alliance and clinical supervision have been shown to be one protective factor against burnout, however the research to date on administrative supervision’s relationship to burnout is scant. This quantitative study involved a sample (N =110) of mental health counselors, who met specific criteria, who completed a series of three inventories: the Counselor Burnout Inventory (CBI), the Brief Supervisory Working Alliance Trainee Form (BSWAT), and the Satisfaction of Administrative Supervision Scale (created by researcher). A multiple regression using the enter …

Predicting Burnout In Graduate Student Counselors Using A Multiple Linear Regression Analysis Of Workaholism Tendencies, Grit, And Academic Entitlement, Rebekah Reysen, Sumedha Therthani, Kristen Butler, Smyth Sexton, Phillip Shumate

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

We investigated the relationship between workaholism tendencies, academic entitlement, and grit on burnout for graduate student counselors (n = 113). Workaholism was the most significant predictor of burnout, with approximately 30% of participants illustrating these tendencies. We conclude with a discussion of future research and implications for the counseling field.

The Exploration Of Why Burnout Occurs With Registered Nurses Who Work In Psychiatric Care Settings, Jenna Booth

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Due to the demands of the job and the nature of the work, being a psychiatric nurse can be mentally, emotionally, and physically draining. As a result, burnout rates are high among psychiatric nurses. Burnout can negatively impact the well-being of psychiatric nurses as well as the quality of patient care. It is important to explore and understand psychiatric nurses' experiences of burnout to help prevent and decrease burnout. A phenomenological qualitative design was utilized to explore psychiatric nurses' lived experiences of burnout. A survey, qualitative in nature, was sent out to nurses at a psychiatric hospital. Phenomenological data analysis …

Factors Associated With The Work-Related Burnout Of Residential Employees: An Examination Of Perfectionism And Coping, Autumn L. Cabell

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

Employees in residential facilities face emotionally stressful situations with youth who often become physically aggressive. Exposure to physical aggression and a stressful work environment can lead to burnout in employees who work in youth residential facilities. Previous research suggests that perfectionism and coping styles are related to burnout. However, there is a gap in the literature related to the relationships between perfectionism, coping, and burnout in residential employees. Therefore, this study sought to explore the relationships among adaptive perfectionism, avoidant coping styles, and work-related burnout in (n = 69) residential employees. The results indicated that both avoidant coping styles …

The History, Prevalence, And Implications Of Burnout In Medical Residents, Zoey Smith

Counselor Education Capstones

Medical providers are often seen as infallible, setting a standard for professionalism and quality care. However, throughout history, it has been shown that from medical students to residents, to attending physicians there can be an overarching trend of burnout. Poor work-life balance impacts sleep and physical well-being, and high-intensity situations can leave those in the medical field feeling empty. Medical residents are a population that has experienced these occurrences for years. Studies have suggested that this can stem from residents having limited control in their situations while being trusted with immense responsibility. Historic context to why residency programs are run …

Latino Pastors And Their Spouses' Marital Satisfaction And Its Predicting Factors, Tanya Paniagua

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Latino population in the United States has been the primary driver of demographic growth in the country (Flores, 2017). With this increasing shift in America, it is important to investigate the unique strains on clergy families among Latino pastors as evidence suggests stress is a threat to marital satisfaction and its longevity (Randall & Bodenmann, 2009). Very little literature on marital dynamics has focused on Latino pastors; thus, a need exists for more research in examining how cultural values and acculturation impact marital satisfaction while considering the relationship between marital satisfaction and selected variables: affection, sexual satisfaction, communication, burnout, …

First Responder Mental Health, Kira Swensen, Timothy Keady, Maren Wright Voss

All Current Publications

Communities spend thousands of dollars on first responders to protect them physically: body armor for law enforcement officers, heat resistant gear for firefighters, gloves and reflective clothing for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel. Supporting and investing in programs related to first responders’ mental health is equally important in keeping their minds safe. First responders train long hours each year to stay prepared for almost any situation. In the past, training has centered around physical safety and job efficiency. In recent years, efforts have been made to include mental health training and reduce the stigma associated with mental health for first …

Burnout Treatment And Prevention Using Multimodal Expressive Arts Therapy In Massachusetts Wellness Programs., Amanda Medas

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Abstract

This capstone thesis will explore the issue of burnout in the field of mental health and the argument for the promotion of using expressive arts as a therapeutic component to decrease and prevent symptoms of burnout. The writer of this thesis will be sharing her personal experiences with burnout while working in the field of mental health. The researcher will review a multimodal expressive arts self-study that she engaged in over the course of one month and will be using the Maslach Burnout Inventory to track symptoms of burnout. Burnout and its prevalence in the field of mental health …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Approach To Analyzing How Licensed Counselors Practice Self-Care, Sadé Dunn

All Student Theses and Dissertations

Self-care in the mental health field is essential to counteract burnout in clinicians. This study uses the hermeneutic phenomenological approach to analyze the lived experiences of Licensed Counselors (LC) in Outpatient Mental Health Clinics (OMHC). The researcher took an in depth look at the level of support and their lived experience while they practice self-care. The study consisted of individual interviews and a writing prompt with the LCs. In order to be considered for the study, the participants had to be working 30 hours and employed at an OMHC. The study was conducted with the hope of understanding better modes …

Supervisory Working Alliance As A Predictor For Counselor Burnout: The Potential Mediating Role Of Supervisee Nondisclosure, Amanda Bohnenstiehl

Dissertations

Clinical supervision sometimes lacks the elements necessary for a rigorous, helpful, and meaningful experience for the supervisee. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between the supervisory working alliance, supervisee nondisclosure (i.e., when a supervisee does not communicate information that would otherwise be shared with the supervisor), and counselor burnout, specifically in a sample of counselors, social workers, and psychologists pursuing their original state licenses. Nondisclosure was examined to determine if it was a mediator of the relationship between the supervisory working alliance and burnout. Participants (n = 288) completed a demographic questionnaire, the supervisee form …

Examining The Relationship Between Self-Care And Professional Quality Of Life In Counseling And Clinical Psychology Trainees, Beverly Sharifian

Psychology and Counseling Theses

Helping professionals are systemically exposed to the suffering of their clients, resulting in emotional and behavioral consequences. Stamm’s (2010) theoretical framework for professional quality of life is characterized by the positive (compassion satisfaction) and negative (burnout and secondary traumatic stress) facets of the work of helping professionals. Graduate students in the fields of counseling and psychology are establishing life-long professional practices, caught between the demands of caring for others and attending to their own needs. The present study assessed the frequency of self-care practices among clinical psychology and clinical mental health counseling graduate students to predict their professional quality of …

Wanting It All: Designing And Developing A Sustainable Life Of Meaning And Purpose Through Reflective Practice, Janell Burley Hofmann

Critical and Creative Thinking Capstones Collection

This synthesis presents an integration of the coursework in the Master of Arts in Critical and Creative Thinking at The University of Massachusetts Boston. Here the symptoms and realities of personal and professional burnout and exhaustion will be examined through the lens of well-being, while scaffolding the emergence of the higher ideal towards the sustainable cultivation of purpose and meaning. Tools, strategies and design structures are shared to promote and practice sustainability through Reflective Practice. This includes Reflective Questioning, Developing and Mapping of Value Components and Visual Tools to understand and apply Critical and Creative Thinking. The author’s personal narrative …

Using Dance/Movement Therapy To Educate Hospice Providers On Preventing Burnout: A Method, Victoria G. Powell

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Burnout is a clinical condition that an individual may experience whenever they are in a constant state of stress. It is categorized by three groups of symptoms: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and negative self-evaluation of personal achievement (Rizo-Baeza et al., 2017, p. 19). This inquiry investigated the impact of burnout on hospice professionals and volunteers through researching previous literature. The research led to the development of a psychoeducational, body-based method with a Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) foundation. This preventative method was implemented in two separate workshops for hospice professionals and volunteers at a Massachusetts-based hospital system. Results indicate a need for training …

Attachment And Burnout: Exploring The Predictive Nature Of Self-Efficacy In A Sample Of Direct-Care Staff Members, Eric Jason Camden

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The push for least-restrictive care and associated policies has increased the prevalence of youth with higher levels of acuity requiring admission to residential treatment centers. This increased psychiatric severity of children and adolescents served in residential centers places the largest burden on direct-care staff members. As a result, direct-care staff members experience workplace stressors such as staff-member shortages/unplanned call-outs, poor morale, high stress, and burnout. Burnout is widely recognized as a significant hazard for professional caregivers and is a potent barrier to clinical effectiveness. Extant literature on burnout examines individual and organizational factors that lead to burnout experiences, and this …

Development Of An Art Therapy Method For The Prevention And Treatment Of Vicarious Trauma, Leanna Pai

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Modern developments in the field of mental health care have greatly increased understanding of vicarious trauma and its impacts on the helping professions. However, the prevalence of vicarious trauma symptoms highlights the need for additional research into prevention and treatment. First responders, critical healthcare workers, and mental health professionals are at particularly high risk for compassion fatigue, burn out, and other symptoms of vicarious trauma as they work closely with traumatized populations. The high incidence of vicarious trauma in individual helping professionals can have immense consequences that ultimately limit quality systems of care available to the general public. This thesis …

Burnout In Sweden And The United States: A Cross-Cultural Comparison, Gina G. Barker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation begins with a background on the phenomenon of burnout. A review and examination of the literature on burnout in offered, including diagnoses, symptoms, and assessments; causes and antecedents; the related concepts of demands, motivation, and stress; prevention, intervention, and treatment; and cultural influences. Research on cross-cultural differences between Swedish and American cultures is addressed. The review concludes with a rationale, research questions, and hypotheses to guide this cross-cultural investigation of burnout in Sweden and the United States. Next, the research design is described and illustrated. This study examined how cultural dimensions, self-efficacy, and performance-based self-esteem moderate the relationships …

The Relationship Between Counselor Educators' Leadership Experience And Competence And Burnout, John Harrichand

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mentorship and servant leadership are requirements of quality counselor educators. Recognized as leaders in the field of counseling, counselor educators exert great influence on students, clients, peers, and society at large. However, it is apparent from the paucity of research on the subject that attention and resources examining the impact leadership has on burnout in counselor educators is lacking. This study examined the relationship between a counselor educator’s experience and competence of leadership and dimensions of burnout. The results from this pilot study indicated no significant correlations between the Principles and Practices of Leadership Excellence Experience subscale and each of …

Burnout Among Bilingual Social Service Providers, Marlene Reyes

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study focuses on burnout among bilingual Social Service Providers (BSSPs) and examines their thoughts and beliefs on the interconnection of their bilingual/bicultural skills and higher risk of burnout. The findings from this study have significant ramifications for the social service field on both Macro and Micro levels. At a Micro scale, the data validates the additional responsibilities of BSSP’s, while bringing more awareness to this group of professionals. Additional findings contribute to new policies regarding BSSPs job responsibilities; for example, accurate job descriptions and training for positions that require translation and interpretation. An exploratory study using qualitative data was …

Burnout In Counselor Education: The Role Of Cynicism And Fit In Predicting Turnover Intention, Susannah C. Coaston, Ellen P. Cook

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This study explored the experience of burnout in counselor education faculty, and how it relates to perceived worklife fit and turnover intention. Participants experienced a moderate level of burnout in the areas of exhaustion, cynicism, and professional inefficacy. The results of a MANOVA revealed that male and female participants differed on a composite measure of burnout, fit, and turnover intention, but there were no significant multivariate differences based on race or tenure status. Both cynicism and perceived worklife fit uniquely contributed to the prediction of turnover intention, together explaining 29% of the total variance in turnover intention. Further directions for …

The Cost Of Caring: Emergency Department Nurses, Compassion Fatigue, And The Need For Resilience Training, Amelia Walton

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Emergency Departments (EDs) are notoriously unpredictable and high stress environments. ED nurses are regularly exposed to stressful events such as sudden death, trauma, death and resuscitation of children, aggression and violence from patients, and systemic environmental stressors. For some ED nurses, prolonged exposure to these stressors leads to the development of compassion fatigue and burnout, but stigma around seeking support for mental health issues can impede a nurse’s desire to seek treatment. The counseling profession has seen an increased interest in the role that resilience-building strategies can have in negating the deleterious effects of compassion fatigue and burnout in nurses. …

Mindset Matters: Practitioner Resilience In The Helping Professions, Bethany Novotny

ETSU Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Differentiation Of Self: Enhancing Therapist Resilience When Working With Relational Trauma, Linda Mackay

Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Clinicians are charged with being diligent in gaining competency in the latest trauma‐informed interventions when working with relational trauma. This may invest therapists with an overresponsibility that is not only overwhelming and unrealistic, but serves to reduce autonomous functioning in family members. Therefore, clinicians need to become clear about what they are responsible for and what they are not, particularly when family members present as irresponsible or too anxious to think and act more effectively. Using a case vignette, this paper discusses how a clinician's focus on increasing their differentiation of self, a concept embeded in Bowen family systems theory, …

The Compassion Fatigue And Resilience Connection: A Survey Of Resilience, Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, And Compassion Satisfaction Among Trauma Responders, Harvey J. Burnett Jr, Kathleen Wahl

Faculty Publications

Research has shown that compassion fatigue is associated with burnout and compassion satisfaction. Practically no studies have examined how resilience may impact these variables. This study examined how resilience is related to compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction among a convenience sample of disaster behavioral health and emergency preparedness responders (N =139) attending a training conference in Michigan. Measures included the 30-item Professional Quality of Life Scale, the 14-item Resilience Scale, and a demographic questionnaire. Seventy-two percent of the participants were at risk for compassion fatigue, while 19% were at risk for burnout. Only 22% of participants had scores indicative …

Idealism & Reality: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Pastoral Expectations & Ministry Realities Experienced By Protestant Church Planting Pastors, Dwayne Bond

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With the majority of literature focused on reducing clergy stressors, there is a need to explore how pastors respond when ministry idealism dissipates, while familial and congregational expectations increase. When idealized expectations fade, how do clergy experience resiliency? The purpose of this study was to explore how idealism affects clergy resiliency and their responses, coping, and longevity in ministry. Ten new church-planting Protestant pastors were selected using snowball sampling. Each pastor was interviewed. Data from the two-hour in-depth interviews was collected, organized and analyzed. The findings for each interview were compared and contrasted, and themes were identified - a) utilizing …

Degree Of Implementation Of The American School Counselor Association National Model And School Counselor Burnout, Katrina Marie Steele

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

School counselors have undergone a job description evolution over the past 100 years. Changes have been made in the education that is required to be a school counselor. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) has developed a national model to define the role and job activities of school counselors. Most school counselors, counseling programs within individual schools, and school districts have incorporated parts of the ASCA National Model of school counseling to varying degrees. This study focused on the degree to which counselors perceived the ASCA National Model was adopted in their schools and whether the degree of adoption was …

The Mindfully Attached Therapist: Factors That Predict And Prevent The Development Of Compassion Fatigue, Stephanie E. Armes

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

Characterized as a loss of empathy, compassion fatigue is experienced by many in the helping professions. Also known as secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue occurs when those in the helping professions experience trauma through interacting with the traumatic experiences of the people they are helping. Previous literature has found the development of compassion fatigue to be inevitable due to the amount of empathy those professionals must utilize on a daily basis. Mindfulness practices, such as Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) have been found to be a helpful learning tool for those in the helping …