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Prevention of Professional Burn-out with Care Workers: Self-Care and Organizational Care. This module is taken from Work for Care: A Trainer's Manual on Sexual and Domestic Violence During and After War. Module 13

Document number
1809
Date
2005
Title
Prevention of Professional Burn-out with Care Workers: Self-Care and Organizational Care. This module is taken from Work for Care: A Trainer's Manual on Sexual and Domestic Violence During and After War. Module 13
Author/publisher
Admira
Availability
View/save PDF version of this document
Document type(s)
Training Material/Resources,
Keywords
Assistance, Reintegration, Social assistance, Rehabilitation, Reflection period, Repatriation; Return; Redress, Protection, Social inclusion; Residence permit; Violence, Human rights violation, Crime against humanity, War crime, Armed conflict, Post-conflict situation, Terrorism,
Summary
Many of the care workers that decide to work with survivors of war and (sexual) violence do so out of great commitment, idealism, solidarity, a deep wish to set something straight, to heal what was broken. Many of us have experienced that working with survivors of trauma is not only healing for our clients, but in some way also for ourselves. Under circumstances of war and conflict, helping others may help to reduce our own feelings of helplessness in the face of so much suffering and destruction. What many care workers do not realise however, is the impact of their work onto themselves. The suffering of clients, in combination with limited sources and possibilities to help, can be overwhelming and can cause various forms of professional stress. These forms of stress are the topic of this module. It deals with the psychological consequences of working with survivors of violence and the way care workers respond to these consequences. The second part deals with coping strategies for care workers and the organizations they work in.
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