Preventing Staff BOUNDARIES SELF CARE CASETIME MANAGEMENT Overview

Preventing Staff BOUNDARIES, SELF CARE & CASE/TIME MANAGEMENT

Overview Why is the prevention of counselor burnout important? • We care about you! • Staff Turnover • Knowledge is lost – participants, agency • Costly – morale, productivity, money

What is Staff Burnout How would you describe staff burnout? • Loss of life balance because of long term job stress • Signs: increasing absences forgetting meetings physical ailments weight gain/loss meds affecting mind avoiding people increasing mistakes dreaming of other jobs loss of purpose disengagement

Good News!

Boundaries When you think about boundaries in your work, what comes to mind? • Protect us and protect participants • Clarity between professional and personal What are other reasons boundaries are important?

Boundaries - Family • Explain situation to supervisor/co-workers • See if another counselor can take family member on caseload • Ask for insights from others • Set clear parameters for relationship in and out of the office

Boundaries – In Public • Avoid social media relationships with participants • Only engage if approached first • Keep engagement minimal

Other Boundaries • Calling after hours • Stopping in unannounced • Friendships / sexual relationships • Excessive self-disclosure • Extending deadlines / special allowances • Etc. – What is missing from this list that you want to share with others in this group?

Boundary Crossing

Self Care How would you define self care / personal restoration? Traditional ceremonies exercise restful sleep Personal counseling good nutrition family time Leisure activities time in nature neutralizing at work Personal affirmations mindfulness gratitude

Mindfulness • Awareness of one’s mental, emotional, and physical experience in the present moment with an attitude of non-reactivity Video TEDx – How mindfulness meditation redefines pain, happiness & satisfaction by Dr. Kasim Al. Mashat (16 min. )

Affirmations • Positive self-statements • Guidelines for Affirmations: a) Start with “I am ________” (something positive) b) Use present tense c) Be brief d) Write it, then say it aloud e) Be specific and realistic f) Make it rich in imagery

Affirmations • Examples of General Affirmations: • I am lovable and capable • I am a great mom / dad. • I am a great friend. • I am enjoying weighing ___ lbs and I accept my figure. • I am radiating good health. • I am special in so many ways. (count them!) • I am a loving person who has much to give. • I deserve my successes. • I am relaxed, calm, and at peace with myself and others. • I am consistently doing my best work. • I am confidently exercising my right to ask for what I want. Video – A beginner's complete guide to daily affirmations by Melissa Alexandria (11 min. )

Attitude of Gratitude • Expressing gratitude makes us happier Video – The Gratitude Experiment (5 min. )

Identify Personal Values • Greater fulfillment when we live by our values • One way to do this is the activity on identifying personal values created by MINT. • Instructions can be found at: https: //motivationalinterviewing. org/sites/default/files/valuesinstructions. pdf • Cards can be printed at: http: //www. motivationalinterviewing. org/sites/default/files/valuescardsort_0. pdf

Case & Time Management • Make and keep a schedule • Prioritize what is most important • Schedule self-care! • Advocate for yourself • Don’t work more than the hours you're paid for • Learn to say “no”