I’m often asked by people the question, “How can you listen to people all day”? It can be frustrating when someone seems to not really want to change, but to really focus on blaming others. But I think that is the first impulse we have- to get validation for our own perceptions and see the other person as causing our situation. I find that gently questioning this can help someone to look themselves.
July 31, 2009
How Can You Listen to People All Day
Filed under: social work burn out — Tags: burn out, psychotherapy, social work burn out — admin @ 4:43 am
May 2, 2009
Social Workers and Therapists: How to Stop Burn Out
Filed under: social work burn out, social worker skills — Tags: burn out for therapists, social workers — admin @ 3:12 pm
Just as an accountant often doesn’t do his taxes by April 15th, I’ve noticed that a lot of social workers, mental health counselors and psychologists don’t take the time to relax, stretch or restore energy. Talking to people takes a lot of energy. You are trying to figure out their situation with them, you are feeling someone’s pain and struggle, you also can get frustrated when someone seems to stay shut in their own box of thinking and perception. Sometimes we wish so much we could turn someone’s head around so they can see where they are stuck. But this is something someone needs to realize through their own insights. It’s important to not burn out as a therapist.
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