How are you coping? The stress of being a psychologist.

How are you going?

I’m tired, I’m feeling some emotional and physical exhaustion. Not my normal let’s jump into the week after a normal weekend.

How about you?

In Melbourne we have just entered Lockdown 5.0 and the mental stress that comes with this is real.

Below are some of the normal common stressors for psychologists.

• Vicarious trauma
• Imposter Syndrome
• Personalising – eg clients not turning up, client ghosting you
• Bullying in the workplace
• Dealing with grey ethical issues/areas
• Admin overload – reports, letters, file notes, pd
• All the unpaid work – the above admin plus preparation, phone calls etc.
• Client who say they can’t afford your services
• Places where you work telling you they’re closing early (oh, maybe that’s just me…)
• Clients who don’t accept the session is over
• Getting clients
• Finishing with clients
• Isolation
• We see clients 1:1, we work within the codes of confidentiality and privacy, we receive inconsistent or no feedback from our clients – and when we receive positive feedback we reflect it back to the client’s work – we ‘aren’t allowed’ to take credit for it. Unlike a painter or an accountant.
• We are expected to know it all, to have all the answers, this makes asking for help difficult
• We have a never ending to do list – and our brain doesn't switch off – unless we help it.
• Many of our tasks are not time based – they are open ended, or truly never ending – there really is always more to do.
• Compassion Fatigue
• Countertransference

Then let’s add on managing increasing community and client anxiety, depression and trauma due to a global pandemic.

Then let’s add on managing increasing community and client anxiety, depression and trauma due to a global pandemic. The extra administration with changing policies and procedures. The amount of ethical decisions, eg do I see continue to see vulnerable clients face to face and potentially put myself and family at risk? Do I bulk bill and take a reduced income that is economically unviable? Can I fit in extra clients? What will be clients/family/peers think of me? And so it goes on.

SO WHY ARE THESE STRESSORS A PROBLEM?

BURNOUT

Burnout has been defined as “a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion that results from long-term involvement in work situations that are emotionally demanding” (Schaufeli & Greenglass, 2001, p. 501).

Common features of burnout include:

• emotional exhaustion
• depersonalisation (i.e., reduced empathy)
• reduced sense of accomplishment (Bearse, et al., 2013).

These factors in isolation, or combined, can significantly interfere with psychologists’ ability to function effectively. Furthermore, burnout can decrease a person’s motivation to engage in self-care activities, and minimise the protective value such activities can have when they are undertaken.

Comments from psychologists in person and on Facebook groups show that reduced empathy is coming through in lots of ways. The split and division in the psychology community in many cases seem to be getting deeper. There is decision making fatigue, comments reflecting frustration about technology, government decisions, attitude from peers, clinicians reducing hours or thinking of closing their business; or conversely feeling they need to see more clients to meet community expectation.

What stressors are you currently experiencing? How are you coping?

This is one of the first steps to self-care, being aware of the stressors. What expectations are attached to these stressors? Which of these can you control? Which of these can you reduce or let go of?

This is one of the first steps to self-care, being aware of the stressors. What expectations are attached to these stressors? Which of these can you control? Which of these can you reduce or let go of?

About the Author.?Kim is a private psychologist who loves working collaboratively both online and in real life with other professionals and is passionate about increasing connection in individuals, the community and the natural world.

ps. If you are a psychologist and aren't already a member of the Victorian Psychologists' Networking Group I invite you to join.

And if you like podcasts check out Creating Connection. Where ways to connect with yourself, other people and the world around you are discussed.

This article was edited on the 18th July 2021.

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