“Remember to Place the Oxygen Mask on Yourself First…”

Abstract

Abstract Loss, trauma, grief, and suffering are a normal part of a therapist's work. In the business of caring for people, therapists are often least trained in practice of self care. Sometimes the best trained professionals become tired, fatigued, ineffective and even iatrogenic. This column reflects on the vulnerability of therapists, how therapists may become aware of their own personal reactions to the stories of the lives of the people they work with, as well as their friends and family. The author also shares some common ways to recognize when one becomes fatigued as a professional and how to prevent from ‘burnout.’