Being happy and well adjusted is a personal goal for all of us, and for advocates, therapeutic consultants and those that have chosen careers in programs and schools, it is also a prerequisite for optimum performance for our clients. We have all experienced having a bad day that lowered the quality of interactions with our clients. Since we interact in an intimate way with other human beings, our wellness is important to their success. We have a responsibility as role models.

Modeling a stressed-out, unhappy existence is not likely to inspire our clients to embrace the benefits of what we are offering. Staying focused and aware and able to pick up on non-verbal cues is also closely linked to us being successful with these kids and their parents.

Knowing that our every thought and mood can affect the lives of others constitutes a huge responsibility.

This can either inspire a person to be the best they can be or lead them to a collapse under pressure.

The happier we are, the better we can assist these kids and their parents. So nurturing, rewarding and satisfying ourselves is not selfish. Rather, it is a prerequisite of our chosen Life Path. In my experience, few advocates, therapeutic consultants or those working at programs or schools, speak openly about the ways in which they might be feeling distressed, impaired or stressed.

A common myth is that those in this field, those educated in assisting others, are somehow immune from problems of their own, or at least less susceptible.

This myth is often compounded by the belief that those in this chosen field should be able to overcome their problems without seeking assistance themselves.

I have experienced staff at programs and schools that have their own problems rendering them unfit for their job.  My intention is to focus on prevention, to assist us all in keeping that beginner's enthusiasm for your work while you gather experience that makes you better.

The slightest lapse needs to be addressed before it becomes a real problem.

The first step is to get in touch and stay in touch with what is motivating you. Almost everyone who is doing this work is motivated to achieve outcome goals, such as assisting others put their lives back together.

Most of us realize that to achieve these goals we also need to attend to some goals of our own.

Many deal with audits, insurance coverage, maintaining their license, regulatory compliance - and during all of this a person can lose sight of their own goals.

When a person feels as if their job has become too process-oriented and not enough outcome-oriented, then they are more than likely going to experience burnout. It is easy to get lost in the pressures of chart notes, schedules and staff meetings.

A person can lose sight of why they chose this type of work, rather than focusing on helping the kids and their parents reclaim their lives.

When this happens a person begins to focus more on getting through each day - until getting through each day becomes the only goal. When a person experiences going through a divorce or losing a family member, there usually is awareness that this is bound to affect a persons work and that they must proceed cautiously.

However, when problems are more ordinary, such as when a person has a fight with their significant other or when a close friend or loved one is in the hospital, it is not always noticeable that it is taking a toll on a persons interactions with the kids and/or parents.

Next month - What you can do.

 

 

 
Troubled Teen Help - Help for parents of struggling and troubled teens

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