How to Avoid 'Care-Burn' - 'Supporting' versus 'Caring'
On the face of it, the support worker is working at optimum pace all the time, making a real difference. But underneath all of this, a problem is brewing. A problem about understanding boundaries. We have all seen them. Colleagues with a mission to 'save' their clients. They will go to the ends of the earth for them. They take their issues home, they dedicate 120% of their effort to helping - they are 'on-point' twenty-four-seven. Unfortunately, they may be so wrapped up in this that fail to recognise how to set boundaries between their personal lives and the personal lives of their clients. After a while, a little embittered, very tired and perhaps disillusioned, they burn out. Perhaps they confuse 'caring' for a client with 'supporting' them. It's a common mistake, but avoidable. What do you think? - How best do you respect yourself and your clients? Where do 'care' and 'support' meet? Where might 'care' affect a person...