A few years ago, I began to think about how we are caring for those who care. Maybe I was slow to fully realise this, but as I worked with others in the helping profession, I see how orphaned many of us feel. Orphaned in a sense that we receive little to no guidance after becoming licensed, accredited or graduated. Most PD activities doesn’t seem to address this.
Some might call the experience of wounds and betrayals that they carry from the workplace as moral injuries; others feel like their development is of no concern to those who hire them; many are teetering on the brink of burnout.
More so than ever, in the fatiguingly long drawn-out course of this pandemic, I worry about you and me, and our friends in healthcare enterprise. After all, healthcare is people care. We need to care for those who care for others, simply because they are also people.
Do you have thoughts and suggestions about how we can support each other in a sustainable way?
Communities are formed not from our strengths and successes, but a willingness to bring our brokenness to the table. I would love to hear your input about this in the comments below.
Big things that I think about when considering how we can care for each other in the health profession is having time for each other and being ok to talk about what we personally struggle with in our work. I think sometimes we can want to appear strong, resilient and competent so therefore can be reluctant to share our struggles, reducing opportunities for help. On the first point, I mean time for each other to connect, especially in fun ways, as time tends to be taken up in clients, research, work and our families etc; not leaving much time to just connect with each other. That’s what I like about getting into DP, sure it’s still work related but it has given me an avenue to connect with others who share a passion; which I think also opens a door towards looking out for eachother.
Brilliant Jimmy! Your colleagues are lucky to have you!
Something I feel strongly about. Seeking help, being vulnerable and showing our fallibilities is something we as helping professionals do not do well, nor are we very good at self-reflection. Normalising being not ok I think is where we need to start. Normalising seeking help, taking a break, building a culture whereby we lean on each other – I think this is key as health professionals. Looking after each other, TRUSTING each other. Interestingly at my workplace I feel like we have grown closer together as a team during the pandemic, because we have been intentional with checking-in, making time to catch up, also normalising the feeling of not coping… because our job is hard.
hi Tiff, apologies I missed your comment.
It stuck a chord. To me, it seems like individualism has run its course.
The practice of psychotherapy should not be seen as a lone sport.