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's ability to 'support'?

Ultimately, how do the boundaries we respect between ourselves and our clients work to make us better at our job?

How does respecting boundaries mean that we respect ourselves as well as respect those we support?