Publication Date

2010

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Department

School for Social Work

Keywords

Social workers-Religious life, Social workers-Job stress, Burn out (Psychology)-Prevention, Secondary traumatic stress-Prevention, Self-care, Religious practices, Spirtual practices, Avoiding burnout, Avoiding compassion fatigue, Avoiding vicarious traumatization, Clinician self-care

Abstract

This study was designed to examine whether clinicians who identified themselves as maintaining a religious or spiritual practice as part of self-care routines found these practices helpful in continuing to practice effectively. To collect information regarding this question, eleven clinicians doing direct service work were interviewed; each clinician was asked the same set of questions. The study was qualitative in nature. Each clinician had a unique way of expressing, carrying out, and maintaining his or her religious and/or spiritual practices. As a whole, however, the eleven stories created a surprisingly cohesive narrative. All eleven clinicians reported maintaining religious and/or spiritual practices as part of their self-care helped them continue to do difficult work, avoiding burnout, compassion fatigue and vicarious traumatization.

Language

English

Comments

iii, 61 p. Thesis (M.S.W.)-Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2010. Includes bibliographical references (p. 55-58)

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