Ethical Importance of Psychotherapists’ Self-Care and When It Fails

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés J. Consoli ◽  
Heidi A. Zetzer ◽  
Himadhari Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Self Care ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Professional Self ◽  
Great Stress

The practice of psychotherapy can be as rewarding as challenging. Psychotherapists are likely to find themselves inspired by their work at times, while at others, demoralized. The clients they serve can be a source of encouragement, even admiration in their abilities to overcome their difficulties; they can also be a source of great stress and discouragement. Considering the sizable range of emotions psychotherapists will experience in their daily practice, the ability of providers to proactively engage in self-care while striving towards congruence is paramount. In this chapter, the authors elaborate on the constructs of personal and professional self-care as meaningful ways to cope with, if not right out prevent, distress, burnout, and impairment. Moreover, the chapter advances an institutional, organizational, and communitarian view of self-care that acknowledges psychotherapists as members of a socially needed workforce, with their own rights to associate and unionize, while affirming their well-being.

scholarly journals The daily digital practice as a form of self-care: Using photography for everyday well-being

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 621-638
Author(s):  
Liz Brewster ◽  
Andrew M Cox
Keyword(s):  
Practice Theory ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Digital Communities ◽  
Individual Trait ◽  
Theory Framework

Interest in the connection between involvement in digital communities and well-being has increased as these communities become more commonplace. Specific models of interaction that affect well-being have emerged; here, we examine one of those models, termed ‘digital daily practice’. Digital daily practices involve a commitment to doing one thing – exercise, photography and writing – every day and sharing it online. Participants in these practices agree that they provide an unexpected benefit of improving well-being. This article makes an in-depth examination of one digital daily practice, photo-a-day, using a practice theory framework to understand the affordances it offers for well-being. We engage with the literature on well-being and self-care, critiquing its presentation of well-being as an individual trait. We present data from an ethnographic study including interviews and observations to highlight how photo-a-day as a practice functions as self-care and how communities are formed around it. Photo-a-day is not a simple and uncomplicated practice; rather it is the complex affordances and variance within the practice that relate it to well-being. We conclude that this practice has multi-faceted benefits for improving well-being.

Research-to-Resource: Applying a Self-Care Framework to Music Education

2021 ◽  
pp. 875512332110569
Author(s):  
John Rine A. Zabanal
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Preventive Health Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
The Self ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Professional Self

Self-care is a topic that has gained traction among helping professionals. It is considered a preventive health care measure used to promote physical and mental health as well as personal well-being. In this article, I use a self-care framework created for social workers and adapt it to music educators with the intention of aiding music teachers in practicing and maintaining their own self-care. The self-care framework is categorized into two dimensions—personal and professional self-care—which each contains various domains. Pragmatic strategies grounded in relevant literature in music education are described in each category within the self-care framework. By providing a self-care framework and relevant strategies, I aim to improve knowledge of self-care practices of music teachers.

scholarly journals Dyads in Dementia Care: An International Perspective on Research Challenges and Opportunities

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 757-757
Author(s):  
Marie Boltz ◽  
Karin Wolf-Ostermann ◽  
Katie Maslow
Keyword(s):  
Daily Practice ◽  
Well Being ◽  
International Perspective ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Research Strategies ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Informal Carers

Abstract Dementia poses a societal challenge that is life-changing not only for persons with dementia (PWD) but also for family members and friends (informal carers) directly involved in the care arrangement. Informal carers (IC) have typically poorer outcomes in terms of well-being, quality of life (QoL), health status, and use of health care resources. Dyads of PWD and IC living with dementia are characterized by strong reciprocal relationships and complex living contexts. Therefore, research should investigate home based dementia caregiving from a dyadic perspective to yield interventions that support the PWD, the IC, and the unit as a whole. However, it is an ongoing challenge to investigate dyadic needs and preferences in daily practice and develop effective interventions. Challenges are related to incomplete understanding of dyadic characteristics, attitudes and beliefs within the dyad, as well as how to adapt research approach to engage and retain the dyad in research. This international symposium will therefore address these issues. The first presentation will describe a typology of dementia care dyad characteristics and needs in Germany. The second presentation will examine the challenges and opportunities associated with recruiting and retaining dementia dyads. The third presentation will explore ethical challenges posed in communication with dyads and possible solutions for the researcher. The final presentation reports on the Meeting Centre Support Program as an example of an effective psychosocial intervention employing research strategies that transcend cultural barriers. Our discussant, Katie Maslow, will synthesize the presentations and lead a discussion of future directions for policy and practice.

Teaching Mindfulness for the Self-Care and Well-Being of Counselors-in-Training

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lacretia Dye ◽  
Monica Galloway Burke ◽  
Cheryl Wolf
Keyword(s):  
Self Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Self ◽  
Counselors In Training

scholarly journals Validity and reliability of the Self-Care Activities Screening Scale (SASS-14) during COVID-19 lockdown

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martín Martínez ◽  
Elkin O. Luis ◽  
Edwin Yair Oliveros ◽  
Pablo Fernández-Berrocal ◽  
Ainize Sarrionandia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Internal Validity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Good Reliability ◽  
Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽  
Health Consciousness

Abstract Background In a context where there is no treatment for the current COVID-19 virus, the combination of self-care behaviours together with confinement, are strategies to decrease the risk of contagion and remain healthy. However, there are no self-care measures to screen self-care activities in general population and which, could be briefly in a lockdown situation. This research aims to build and validate a psychometric tool to screen self-care activities in general population. Methods Firstly, an exploratory factor analysis was performed in a sample of 226 participants to discover the underlying factorial structure and to reduce the number of items in the original tool into a significant pool of items related to self-care. Later a confirmatory factor analyses were performed in a new sample of 261 participants to test for the fit and goodness of factor solutions. Internal validity, reliability, and convergent validity between its score with perceived stress and psychological well-being measures were examined on this sample. Results The exploratory analyses suggested a four-factor solution, corresponding to health consciousness, nutrition and physical activity, sleep, and intra-personal and inter-personal coping skills (14 items). Then, the four-factor structure was confirmed as the best model fit for self-care activities. The tool demonstrated good reliability, predictive validity of individuals’ perception of coping with COVID-19 lockdown, and convergent validity with well-being and perceived stress. Conclusions This screening tool could be helpful to address future evaluations and interventions to promote healthy behaviours. Likewise, this tool can be targeted to specific population self-care’s needs during a scalable situation.

Helping Carers Care: An Education Programme for Rural Carers of People with a Mental Illness

2005 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faye Hayman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Educational Programme ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Descriptive Information ◽  
Exchange Programme ◽  
Positive Outlook

Objective: To provide descriptive information about a short-term educational programme for rural carers of people with a mental illness, living in the Loddon Campaspe Southern Mallee region. Method: The Carers Education Exchange Programme is a flexible, needsbased model that can be modified to cater for individual groups. It consists of a number of sessions on topics relevant to caring for someone with a mental illness, held over a period of several weeks. The programme is offered at locations throughout the region, making it accessible to carers in isolated, rural areas. Results: Feedback indicates that the benefits of participating in the programme include the reduction of isolation and stigma, increased understanding of mental illness, development of skills relevant to the caring role and the formation of supportive networks, both professional and personal. Conclusions: Educational group programmes for carers are an effective way of providing both education and support. This programme can assist in reducing some of the distress and difficulties inherent in caring for someone with a mental illness. Carer well-being is enhanced by the promotion of self-care and a positive outlook.

Study Protocol for Implementation of An Internet-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Promoting Mental Health Among Migrant Live-in Caregivers in Canada (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Po-Lun Fung ◽  
Mandana Vahabi ◽  
Masoomeh Moosapoor ◽  
Abdolreza Akbarian ◽  
Josephine Pui-Hing Wong
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽  
Psychological Intervention ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Virtual Space ◽  
Commitment Therapy ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment

BACKGROUND Psychological distress, isolation, feeling of powerlessness, and limited social support are realities faced by temporary migrant live–in caregivers in Canada. Furthermore, they experience multiple barriers in accessing mental health services due to their long work hours, limited knowledge about health resources, precarious employment, and immigration status. OBJECTIVE Women Empowerment - Caregiver Acceptance & Resilience E-Learning (WE2CARE) project is a pilot intervention research project that aims to promote mental well being and resiliency of migrant live-in caregivers. The objectives include exploring the effectiveness of this program in: (1) reducing psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress); (2) promoting committed actions of self-care; and (3) building mutual support social networks. Further, participants’ satisfaction with the intervention and their perceived barriers and facilitators to practicing the self-care strategies embedded in WE2CARE will be examined. METHODS Thirty-six live- in caregivers residing in Great Toronto Area (GTA) will be recruited and randomly assigned to intervention and waitlist control groups. The intervention group will receive a 6-week web-based psychosocial intervention that will be based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Standardized self-reported surveys will be administered online pre-, post-, and 6-week post-intervention to assess mental distress (DASS 21), psychological flexibility (AAQ-2), mindfulness (CAMS-R) and Multi-System Model of Resilience (MSMR-I). Two focus groups will be held with a subset of participants to explore their feedback on the utility of the WE2CARE program. RESULTS WE2CARE was funded in January 2019 for a year. The protocol was approved by the research ethics boards of Ryerson University (REB 2019-036) in February 2019, and University of Toronto (RIS37623) in May 2019. Data collection started upon ethics approval and was completed by May 2020. A total of 29 caregivers completed the study and 20 participated in the focus groups. Data analyses are in progress and results will be published in 2021. CONCLUSIONS WE2CARE can be a promising approach in reducing stress, promoting resilience, and providing a virtual space for peer emotional support and collaborative learning among socially isolated and marginalized women. The results of this pilot study will inform the adaptation and utility of online delivery of ACT based psychological intervention in promoting mental health among disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. CLINICALTRIAL None

scholarly journals The Stress of Caring—Resilience and HPA-Axis Activity in Hair Samples of Youth Residential Caregivers

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Bürgin ◽  
Nina Kind ◽  
Martin Schröder ◽  
Vera Clemens ◽  
Jörg M. Fegert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Residential Care ◽  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Multiple Stressors ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Residential Care Institutions ◽  
Hair Samples

Background: Professional caregivers in youth residential care institutions experience frequent verbal and physical aggression as well as multiple stressors as part of their everyday work, leading to high levels of burnout and staff turnover. Resilience might buffer against psychophysiological stress response and therefore be crucial for well-being in professional caregivers.Objectives: We aimed to investigate if measures related to resilience [sense of coherence (SoC), self-efficacy and self-care] and attachment security of caregivers were cross-sectionally associated with stress markers in hair samples [cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)].Method: Participants (n = 134; 64.2% women) reported on individual resilience measures and provided hair samples for cortisol and DHEA assays. Attachment was assessed in a subsample using the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP, n = 69). Linear regression models were fitted to estimate the association between resilience measures and the Cortisol:DHEA ratio, cortisol and DHEA, controlling for gender and age.Results: SoC was associated with a lower Cortisol:DHEA ratio (β = −0.36, p < 0.001), driven by a positive association between SoC and DHEA levels (β = 0.28, p = 0.002). Self-care was also associated with lower Cortisol:DHEA ratios (β = −0.24, p = 0.005), due to self-care being associated with higher DHEA (β = 0.21, p = 0.016). HPA-axis measures were not associated with self-efficacy nor with attachment patterns in a subsample.Conclusions: Our findings imply that youth residential care institutions might benefit from programs focusing on enhancing SoC and self-care practices. Fostering a meaningful, comprehensible and manageable professional climate in caregiving environments and implementing self-care in routine practices might enhance not only well-being but also physical health of professional caregivers and in this way buffer adverse health effects of chronic stressors.

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