Burnout is at an all-time high, and not just among therapists. A survey conducted by the American Psychological Society found that over 50 percent of American workers reported signs of burnout, including fatigue, distractibility, and reduced personal efficacy. While it is normal to occasionally feel lethargic and lackluster, if these symptoms persist, you may be headed towards burnout.
What is burnout?
Psychologist Ryan Howes defines burnout as the imbalance between the psychological resources of an individual and the demands made on that individual. The result is a state of exhaustion and overwhelm. Research shows that while therapists readily identify burnout in their patients, they don’t always recognize the signs in themselves. You may be burned out if:
You routinely drag yourself to work.
You find yourself giving advice or “quick fixes” to patients instead of working towards long-term growth.
You have a hard time staying focused and engaged during sessions.
You feel annoyed by your patients or find it difficult to empathize with them.
You start sessions late and/or end sessions early.
You feel relieved when patients cancel.
You self-disclose in ways that are not helpful to patients.
You find yourself relaxing professional boundaries– for example, complaining about patients to colleagues.
You fantasize about quitting.
Self-care: …
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