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STAFF BURNOUT: a single case study
Author(s) -
Hegarty John R.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of the british institute of mental handicap (apex)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1468-3156
pISSN - 0261-9997
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3156.1987.tb00404.x
Subject(s) - burnout , feeling , emotional exhaustion , psychology , unit (ring theory) , psychotherapist , nursing , clinical psychology , social psychology , medicine , mathematics education
Most people, at some time, experience feelings of frustration and disillusionment about their work. Sometimes, however, these feelings persist and lead to emotional exhaustion or breakdown. “Burnout” is a term which powerfully describes such extreme reactions. This paper tells of the experiences of Mary, who led a therapy unit for adults with profound handicaps for nearly three years. During this time she became so emotionally depleted that she left her job and needed to enter psychotherapy. There are important lessons both for direct care staff and management in the story of “Mary's burnout”.