Fostering a Sense of Professional Resilience: Six Simple Strategies

Resilience

By: Ellen Fink-Samnick, LCSW, CCM, CRC

An occupational hazard presents for social work professionals time and again. We are prone to take care of others, both before and more than ourselves. I have referenced this theme countless times before, but recently had its importance emphasized while reading NASW’s Center for Workforce Studies (2006) Executive Summary, Assuring the Sufficiency of a Frontline Workforce: A National Study of Licensed Social Workers. “The contributions, commitment and strength of social workers” to society’s diverse populations was a powerful message of the report. However, a stronger voice spoke to the challenges faced for those entering social work as a vocation that mutually affect one’s individual and collective professional identity.

The following key issues were identified in the summary:

an increase in barriers to effective practice and fewer support systems for effective practice
12% of respondents planned to leave the workforce within two years
increased challenges in retaining newly educated social workers

Like many fellow educators, I reinforce to my students the importance of a solid “sense of self” to their emerging social work identities. Our energy and commitment to practice takes root in that unique zone. But how can one begin to preserve that critical “sense of self” energy for the long haul in light of factors that lead to conclusions such as those cited above?

In the process of facilitating the journey of those who depend on us for our social work expertise, it is easy to forget one’s need to self-nurture. If we do not embrace, promote, and replenish our “sense of self,” we have few, if any, resources left to collaborate in any of the helping efforts that define social work practice. Resources are scarce enough without the loss of the most precious one—ourselves.

Let me pose several questions for your reflection:

Can you identify when you need to stop and listen to your body?
Do you have a defined way to release the emotion(s) experienced from the intensity of practice?
Do you have to be told that you should take time off or at least a “time out”?
How often do you think, “I’m a social worker, so I can handle anything!” on one level, and “I’m a social worker, I should be more self aware” on another? (Fink-Samnick, 2006b)

Self-Care Strategies for Professional Resilience

In the spirit of fostering a sense of resilience and a greater sense of motivation for your social work endeavors, consider these easy strategies:

1. Take time to process experiences with a peer/colleague.

The stresses of professional practice have us on emotional overload. The tendency is to just keep working past this point! Know that feeling? Besides, then the emotion just dissipates over time and we don’t have to deal with anything, right? WRONG! All that happens are those unresolved feelings add up and contribute to an inability to be objective. One also loses the ability to regain balance. There is no weakness in pausing a bit and finding some objective support. It is unfortunate, but in this current practice climate, social workers are no longer guaranteed a social work supervisor at their workplace to help identify and process their reactions. If you do not have the benefit of some supervisory input at your agency, or at least on a private basis, develop a colleague/peer support network on site!

2. Don’t make rash decisions regarding personal or professional life.

Fight or flight? We have an emotional reaction to that which we experience and may make reactive decisions when feeling stressed that have implications we have not thought through. One might look to change careers, a personal or professional partnership, or residence. Be conscious of what is driving the actions—denial vs. well thought out “Revisioning” (Fink-Samnick, 2006a)

3. Don’t feel guilty about having fun.

There are a myriad of emotions experienced when we go through the intensity of our clients’ experiences—whether end of life care, psychiatric crisis, or emotional trauma. Recharging is an obligation to ourselves and the populations who rely on us. It’s that simple!

4. Be conscious of needing “time out”!

Does more really need to be said here?

5. It is ok to pamper yourself to revitalize!

We give so much of our energies to those we work with, and revitalizing ourselves is essential. Make a list of what works for you or one that you are recommending this to. There is an infinite range from spa treatments to long walks, listening to music, eating chocolate. What works for you?

6. Reframe the power of your frustration into advocating for your position!

Our response to the impact of issues around us is intense, whether lack of organizational support, decreased salaries, or failure to recognize the power of professional social work practice—even reading the results of studies on where practice tugs at our social work souls. Take this emotion forward and get involved with your professional association. Click on http://www.socialworkers.org to see what you can do!

Conclusion

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Industry Occupation Employment Matrix Report for 2004-2014 reflects a 19.6% increase in those anticipated to seek entry into the social work labor force. Social work’s ongoing value to society is clear. But are you prepared to give yourself the attention needed to assure you are up to the task at hand for the duration of your career?

References

Fink-Samnick, E. (2006a). Self and balance amid chaos, The Case Manager Journal, 17 (1), 69-71.

Fink-Samnick, E. (2006b). The intergenerational spectrum: An innovative approach to end of life care, The Case Manager Journal, 17 (4), 68-71.

National Association of Social Workers. (2006, March). Assuring the sufficiency of a frontline workforce: A national study of licensed social workers executive summary. Washington, DC: Author.

Ellen Fink-Samnick, LCSW, CCM, CRC, President of EFS Supervision Strategies based in Burke, Virginia, consults and presents on interdisciplinary case management practice, clinical supervision, professional resilience, and intergenerational end of life perspectives. She is an adjunct faculty member at George Mason University’s Department of Social Work. She serves on the Board of Directors for NASW Virginia Chapter, and is on the Legislative, Licensing, and Education committees. She was elected to serve as a chapter delegate for the next NASW Delegate Assembly. Further comments may be directed to Ellen at epflcswccm@aol.com

Comments (4)

Comment Feed

Agency and government responsibility

I enjoyed reading this article. As a social worker in BC who has worked in both non-profit and for-profit (private practice) settings, I have experienced an interesting array of self care situations including a couple of serious burnouts. I completely agree that we as individual social workers must take care of ourselves; however, what sometimes bugs me is the lack of responsibility placed on agencies and funding sources to support this self care. I teach social work students now and during a class focused on self-care, I realized I felt guilty and couldn't quite place why. Upon reflexion, it occurred to me that we so often put the onus on individuals to maintain self care, essentially saying "if a social worker burns out, it is her own fault for not taking better care of herself." Unfortunately, this is the attitude often portrayed when people do burn out. Yet, time and again, social workers are dealing with terrible funding shortages, an overload of clients with complex and secondary-traumatic-stress-inducing life stories. There needs to be some responsibility placed on government (as funders) and agencies to create workplace environments and roles that do not set us up for burnout. There are some positions that essentially guarantee worker burnout. This is unacceptable and should not place blame on individual workers when it does occur. We need to advocate for more realistic caseloads, increased funding, and better supports for those of us wading through the emotional turmoil of others. Just as we help clients understand their challenges by examining the context of their lives, we must do the same for our jobs!

Olivia more than 10 years ago

In agreement with agency and government responsibility

How can we take care of our needs as workers without support from NASW? As a LISW-S, I have witnessed not just apathy for helpers needs, but actual mental abuse incurred as a result of productivity requirements, along with less educated staff disrespect. How can we advocate for others if we are unable to advocate for us and our profession?

Molly Faulk MSW,LISW, LCDCIII more than 10 years ago

agency and government responsibility

I have to agree, as someone who is currently working in the field and in final year of studying I am experiencing a level of burnout. The emphasis is on me failing to undertake appropriate self care. Only upon discussion with my gp did I realise that the catalyst that started the downhill slide was after an incident at work with a verbally abusive client, that left me feeling threatened physically. The client proceeded to make a complaint requirering investigation, but was found not needing further action. Add to that the vicarious trauma, and stress of refunding and unknown long-term job security. I suddenly have realized no wonder I'm apathetic and cautious in my work. I discovered I could be assumed for wrong doings on the word of an abusive manipulative and vindictive individual. When found having acted appropriately, it's just treated like nothing happened all forgotten.
The pressures on self care are squarely placed on the individual, no responsibility is accepted by the organization. The assumption is it's your responsibility. No acceptance that how they handle incidents or level of traumatic information involved your job is involved; let alone related to how they handle it. I have discovered that my workplace is not always safe, that whatever a client says is believed over that of a worker, that one must be able to justify how they work constantly, and I'm expected to listen and deal with hearing the details of abuse and trauma my clients have suffered over time. increased workloads, with increased severity of issues involved.
Sadly we are not taught how to look after ourselves in relation to all of this. I am just coming to realise that I am not totally to blame for my burnout, responsibility is also with my employer; even if they don't acknowledge it, I have.

louise more than 9 years ago

Agree with this comment!

I completely agree with this comment and Molly's as well. Difficult for social workers to "take a spa day" on a social worker's salary. Agencies should share some of the responsibility of caring for its workers. That is just not going to happen until Social Workers can organize and advocate for themselves. We are just now beginning to seem to realize that this is not only ok, but necessary to be an effective social worker.

Chandra Malamud, MSW, Registered Clinical Social Work Intern more than 9 years ago