instructions-
- How will the material you learned assist you in your future human services career?
The material that I have learned in this course can better assist my future human service career in multiple ways. I have learned that they are more than one way to help individuals that have suffered from trauma. Before starting this class, I understood PTSD, but I had centered it with war. Having a better understanding of PTSD will help me better assist clients (young and old) in ways that are personal to them. I have worked in health care as a CAN and burnout was a real struggle for me in long-term care. I think that realizing how important self-care is at a younger age it has taught be better to tend to myself too, even if it is a 20–30-minute bath once or twice a week. After reading and researching about burnout I realize that it can be with any job. Working with other individuals and helping them cope with their own issues it can be easy to “let time slip away.” “Professional self-care is paramount for competent and ethical social work practice.” (Barks, L., McKinley, C. E., Ka’apu, K., & Figley, C. R., 2023)
- How might you implement some of the strategies discussed in Part 2, Chapter 2 of Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services?
In order to implement some of the strategies mentioned in Part 2, Chapter 2, I would first create a space that is welcoming and safe for my clients in order for them to feel comfortable and “at home.” Creating this type of space will allow clients to open up and talk freely over their personal issues. Whether working for an agency or having your own business you should make sure that policies and procedures are put into place which follow TIC in order to provide adequate and care and services. Education is a key factor when it comes to having a career that undergoes constant changes. Being aware of the training and different techniques can help a human service professional feel like they are making a difference while not getting burnt out. Just as a professional need to create an environment for clients, it is also important that employees also have a safe and inviting environment as well to help unwind and destress.
- What methods do you plan to utilize to reduce the risks and impact that working with trauma victims can have on human service professionals? Justify your reasoning for your choice of methods.
As we have learned throughout this course it is easy for a human service professional to experience Cf, burnout, and secondary trauma themselves. In order to help reduce the risks and impacts it is important that the professional utilizes their own resources. The main method is self-care. Knowing your limits and being aware of burnout will not only help you as the professional but also the client as well. Some ways to help create burnout is to have something that can help you destress (bathing, yoga, meditation, journaling), eating healthy, creating good sleep patterns, as well as having someone that you can talk to in order to help you cope.
References
Barks, L., McKinley, C. E., Ka’apu, K., & Figley, C. R. (2023). Is Self-Care a Stand-In for
Feminized Social Privilege? A Systematic Review of Self-Care Facilitators and Barriers to Self-Care Practices in Social Work. Journal of evidence-based social work (2019), 20(6), 914–933. https://doi.org/10.1080/26408066.2023.2231446
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