Burnout and Impairment in Counseling

This blog is presented by Yamid Montalvo, LPC. For more information, please visit Martin Counseling.

Burnout: Characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and feelings of ineffectiveness or lack of personal accomplishment. It builds up over time (Galek, Flannelly, Greene, & Kudler, 2011). 

• Four main factors could lead to burnout: 

• Autocratic administrative style

• Limited opportunities for promotion

• Lack of autonomy

• Lack of appreciation or rewards

• Large caseloads, clients who exhibit challenging behaviors, suicidal clients, clients with PTSD, and excessive paperwork are common triggers for burnout (Sim, Zanardelli, Loughran, Mannarino, & Hill, 2016). 

• Consequences of burnout can include fatigue, substance abuse, insomnia, poor self-esteem, relationship problems, anxiety, depression, and feelings of hopelessness (Sangganjanavanich & Balkin. 2013).

• Two common strategies to avoid burnout (Galek et al., 2011):

• Social support

• Associated with lower levels of burnout among human service workers

• Could be provided by supervisors or other colleagues

• Coping Strategies (Chen et al., 2018)

• Active coping

• Behavioral 

• Psychological

• Passive Coping

• Activities

• Mental States

• Self-care: Reduces burnout, which increases the quality of therapy provided by a mental health professional. It is considered something one does to improve the sense of well-being. There are four main categories of self-care (Sim et al., 2016; Richards, Campenni, & Muse-Burke, 2010):

• Physical

• Psychological

• Spiritual

• Support

• According to the ACA code of ethics: 

• C.2.g Impairment establishes that counselors have to monitor themselves for signs of impairment from their own physical, mental, or emotional problems. If necessary, counselors should limit, suspend, or terminate their professional responsibilities until it is safe for them to return. Counselors should assist colleagues or supervisors in recognizing their own professional impairment and provide consultation and assistance when warranted.

• Texas Administrative Rule 681.41 (dd) stipulates that a licensee must not provide services while impaired by a physical, mental, or medical condition or by medications, drugs, or alcohol.

References

American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA code of ethics. Alexandria, VA: Author.

Chen, L., Liu, J., Yang, H., Ma, H., Wang, H., Huang, Y.,…Zhang, N. (2018). Work-family conflict and job burn-out among Chinese doctors: The mediating role of coping styles. General Psychiatry, 31, 1–7. 

Galek, K., Flannelly, K. J., Greene, P. B., & Kudler, T. (2011). Burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and social support. Pastoral Psychol, 60, 633–649. 

Richards, K. C., Campenni, C. E., & Muse-Burke, J. L. (2010). Self-care and well-being in mental health professionals: The mediating effects of self-awareness and mindfulness. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 32(3), 247–264.

Sim, W., Zanardelli, G., Loughran, M. J., Mannarino, M. B., & Hill, C. E. (2016). Thriving, burnout, and coping strategies of early and later career counseling center psychologists in the United States. Counseling Psychology Quarterly, 29(4), 382–404. 

Sangganjanavanich, V. F., & Balkin, R. S. (2013). Burnout and job satisfaction among counselor educators. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 52, 67–79.

Tx. Admin. Code. tit. 22, § 681.41 (dd) (2019).

Wheeler, A. M., & Bertram, B. (2015). The counselor and the law: A guide to legal and ethical practice. (6th ed.). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. 

Yu, K., Lee, S., & Nesbist, E. A. (2008). Korean Counselor Burnout Inventory [Database record]. Retrieved from PsycTESTS.