MODULE TWO: COUNSELLING - FHI 360 Center for Global Health ...

SESSION 10
Stress and Burnout
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES
Hotline counsellors often suffer from stress and burnout, due to the fact that
their work can be emotionally draining. This session helps participants to avoid
burnout by recognising the causes and symptoms of stress and developing
individualised plans for addressing it.
OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this session, participants will have…
1. Defined stress and burnout
2. Identified causes and effects of stress and burnout
3. Reviewed the questionnaire to assess their risk for burnout
4. Explored stress management strategies
5. Participated in a relaxation exercise
6. Reviewed the YEF HIV/AIDS Hotline Debriefing Programme
SESSION NOTES
WHAT ARE STRESS AND BURNOUT?
Stress is the mental strain or “pull” that you feel when you are challenged by
everyday events. Stress can be healthy and stimulating, because it motivates us
to live fully. Without any stress in our lives, we don’t feel challenged. Stress can
be unpleasant and dangerous when we are not able to control it, however.
Everyone reacts differently to stress, and it is not possible to predict how a
person will react in a particular situation. The way we respond to stress is
determined by out personality, coping skills, lifestyle and socialisation.
Burnout occurs when a person is so stressed that s/he is no longer able to
function at full capacity. It most often occurs in a work environment, but can
also happen in relationships or other situations. Hotline counsellors are
particularly at risk for burnout because they are constantly working with people
who have emotional problems. Burnout can cause a counsellor to quit working if
it reaches the point where s/he feels completely incapacitated. For this reason,
it is important to prevent stress and burnout.
Session 10 – Pg. 1