Counselor Burnout: Symptoms and Sources

Counsellor’s Burnout
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Counsellor’s Burnout
Counselor burnout is a condition characterized by “emotional exhaustion,” “depersonalization,” and a “diminished sense of personal accomplishment” that results from prolonged exposure to stressors in the workplace (Cieslak, 2016). Counselors who work with victims of abuse and domestic violence (VADVs) may be at a higher risk of experiencing burnout because of the challenging and emotionally demanding nature of their work. Frieze et al. (2018) observe that the impacts of the abuse is not entirely affecting the victims and tend to spread within the network of support available to such victims. As an important part of the support available to victims of abuse and domestic violence, counselors must be conversant with the nature of burnout and its causative factors so that one can implement measures to lower the likelihood of burnout when working with VADVs.
Symptoms of Burnout
Notably, counselor burnout manifests in multiple distinct ways. Emotional exhaustion is one of the symptoms associated with burnout and describes the feeling of being emotionally drained and overwhelmed, even after a brief period of work. Because of burnout one experiences a feeling that they are not making the desired progress in their career accompanied by a sense of detachment and cynicism toward clients or stakeholders (Cieslak, 2016). The other symptoms of burnout as detailed in various studies conducted on the condition include irritability, depression, boredom, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal issues, substance abuse, and poor work performance (Cieslak, 2016).
Sources of Burnout
Counselor burnout is a complex phenomenon that can be attributed to both internal and external factors. Internal factors refer to factors that are related to the counselor's characteristics and experiences, while external factors refer to factors that are related to the work environment or the clients they serve. Both internal and external factors can contribute to burnout, and it is important to understand how these factors interact to prevent or address burnout.
External factors can play a significant role in contributing to counselor burnout. One of the most common external factors is workload, which can be overwhelming and exhausting for counselors. Another factor is the job characteristics, including difficult shift work schedules, long hours, and time pressure, which can lead to fatigue and emotional exhaustion. The extensive paperwork requirements and administrative tasks are also sources of stress and frustration for counselors (Cieslak, 2016). In addition, the challenging and complex nature of the counseling profession itself can add to the pressure and burden experienced by counselors. All these external factors can have a significant impact on counselors' emotional and physical well-being, leading to burnout and potentially causing them to leave the profession.
Equally, internal factors play a significant role as a source of burnout. Age can be a factor, as older counselors may experience physical and mental exhaustion more easily than younger ones. Gender differences can also play a role, with female counselors being more susceptible to burnout due to societal expectations and gender roles (Cieslak, 2016). Personality components such as ...