This dissertation was an exploratory research study using a cross-sectional survey design to examine the impact of ecological, environmental, psychological, and financial hardship on counselors of the U.S. Gulf Region. Since 2005, the U.S. Gulf Region, unlike any other region of the United States, has faced multiple disasters including Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike and Gustav (Walsh, 2010), the Great Recession (Conant, 2010), and the largest ecological disaster in the history of the United States, the BP Oil Spill (Gray, 2010). The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes and characteristics of counselors in one U.S. Gulf State, specifically Mississippi, to obtain valuable information about compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction of counselors as measured by the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) (Stamm, 2009). The researcher used a demographic survey and the ProQOL (Stamm) for analyses. The researcher collected the ProQOL (Stamm) sub-scale scores of 282 Mississippi counselors who attended the 60th Annual Mississippi Counseling Conference. The counselors recorded high compassion satisfaction scores, low burnout scores and low secondary traumatic stress scores. Additionally, the researcher used one-way MANOVAs to examine the main effects of counselor characteristics such as educational level, gender, geographic location, self-care methods, and years of experience on the ProQOL (Stamm) sub-scale means of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. The researcher found two statistically significant differences in gender and years of experience. Male participants’ burnout and secondary traumatic stress scores were significantly less than female participants’ burnout and secondary traumatic stress scores. Participants with 1-10 years of experience recorded statistically significant higher burnout scores and lower compassion satisfaction scores than participants with less than one year of experience, 10-20 years of experience, and more than 20 years of experience. In contrast to assumptions related to the ecological, environmental, psychological, and financial hardship present in this region, high levels of satisfaction was found in counselors who serve this region. The researcher found that despite the impact of these multiple traumatic events these counselors were satisfied with their work.

This exploratory study examines the lived experience of Green Cross traumatologists deployed to the New York City World Trade Center disaster. The deployment took place five days after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The author was a member of a ten member advance team that provided crisis stabilization services to an international union in Lower Manhattan. Disaster Mental Health Services and community outreach were provided for a month. The purpose of the study was to describe in an anthropologically holistic perspective the lived experience of traumatologists, who as Americans were also affected by the terrorist disaster. Thirty-one traumatologists participated in the study. Ethnographic methods included participant observation and informal interviews during the first week of the deployment. In-depth interviews were conducted after deployment and ranged from one to three hours in length. Interviews were audio taped, transcribed and analyzed with the assistance of N-vivo software. The author's story is among the narratives. Narratives of lived experience reflect the continuity of life and give meaning to experience within a cultural context. Findings reveal the shared meaning attributed to lived experience in a disaster environment, cultural continuity and change and impact of disaster deployment on the health and safety of the helper. Recommendations for future research, policy and training are offered.

Searching for meaning within the real life experiences of frontline social workers working with clients involved in the illegal drug trade. There is a strong likelihood that during the course of a career a front line social worker will have the opportunity to work with a client who is or has been involved in the illegal drug trade. As there is essentially no existing research literature about social workers who work with clients involved in the illegal drug trade, one of the purposes of this research was to explore this experience from the perspective of front line social workers and bridge the gap in this research area. This qualitative interpretative analysis provided the opportunity to gain insight into and put meaning to the experiences and perceptions of the 11 frontline social workers as they work with clients involved in the illegal drug trade. This research also provides valuable information and implications for practice and for further research.

The political and economically based social system of neoliberalism fosters an individualistic perspective that informs people’s actions when confronted by a stranger in crisis. When a stranger is witnessed in crisis, the witness follows the lead of the neoliberal individualistic social structures that deny the plight of those in crisis. The stranger is feared and left to fend for herself in her plight. The creation of spectacles and imaginary notions of ‘stranger danger’ as combined with individuals having blasé attitudes reinforce an individualistic perspective. The mass media help in circulating an archive of images in which the stranger is dangerous, different and to be feared. Because these images are so available, and have become expected, compassion fatigue is set in motion when people are confronted with images of strangers in crisis; compassion fatigue is reinforced by the surrounding individualistic social structures.

A growing literature documents the inherently stressful nature of working with persons who are suffering or traumatized, and the potential for the development of stress disorders among social workers and other helpers. Previous studies of compassion fatigue and burnout have provided important information about professional and workplace variables that might influence risk, but little attention has been given to studying intrapersonal skills/abilities that might reduce risk and/or increase resilience and work satisfaction among helping professionals. This exploratory study asked whether levels of mindfulness, empathy, and emotional separation would influence professional quality of life, including compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction. Surveys consisting of demographic questions and four established scales measuring professional quality of life, mindfulness, empathy, and emotional separation were mailed to a random sample of 400 licensed clinical social workers in Kentucky. Data were collected between Mar. 8, 2008, and May 29, 2008, and included 171 usable surveys, a 42% response rate. Data were analyzed using ordinary least squares multiple regression, analysis of variance tests, and Sobel tests of mediation. Findings show significant, direct associations of higher mindfulness and emotional separation scores with higher compassion satisfaction scores and lower burnout scores. Higher emotional separation was also directly and significantly associated with lower compassion fatigue, and mediation tests suggested an indirect negative relationship between mindfulness and compassion fatigue as well. The personal distress empathy subscale had a significant, direct, negative association with compassion satisfaction, while empathic concern had a significant, direct, positive association. In addition, tests for mediation suggested significant indirect effects of personal distress on all three dependent variables. Results suggest that an increased emphasis on the intentional management of internal emotional states may be as important for clinicians as it is for clients, and that professional training programs should consider how best to teach such skills.

Counselling as a profession has a decisive influence on the emotional functioning of the counsellor/therapist at both the professional and personal level. A unique emotional component is required of a counsellorltherapist. He/she as an emotional coach must have a special awareness of his/her own emotional processes so that adaptable emotional coping can be harnessed as a powerful therapeutic aid. In the past a void occurred within the context of the Christian counsellor/therapist concerning practical guidelines for managing the emotional life of the counsellor/therapist, which also is the specific focus of this study. A number of passages from the Bible were focused on from a basis theoretical point of departure, which is related to the emotional functioning of the Christian counsellor/therapist in one way or another. From this, among others, it became clear that God rather wishes to bring recovery, honour, renewal and joy instead of brokenness, grief and boundedness. During times of despondency, depression and burnout, God is involved and present in the Christian in a tender, though decisive manner. Rest as a physical, emotional and spiritual activity is also a command which is directly related to the execution of the calling to discipleship. Emotions are meant to be building blocks for fulfilment and joy in the Christian's life. Emotional intimacy and the self-disclosure associated with it, is the only way to grow spiritually and remain emotionally healthy. Life in Christ presents man with the essential foundation for this process. Hence emotion can be utilised to culture greater awareness of a deep dependence on God. In the lives of spiritual leaders, inner wounding often manifest as a noticeable separation1 splitting off between their mind and heart, public and private life, as well as personal and professional life. Like the counselled, the counsellor/therapist must do the necessary emotional work regarding his/her emotional pain so that emotional resolution and transformation can be accomplished. Deep inner wounds must eventually be "touched” in one way or another. Seen from the meta-theory, it became clear that the phenomena compassion fatigue and burnout normally indicates a period or season in which the humanness, fragility and weakness of the counsellor come to the fore. The treatment principle underlying compassion fatigue and burnout is increased self-esteem. A proactive choice of dealing with these phenomena can lead to a decisive levelling out of the phenomena compassion fatigue and burnout. Such action implies, among others, knowledge of the phenomena, self-care due to increased self-esteem, boundaries and a balanced view of discipleship. With regard to the empirical research, a qualitative research approach was followed by using a standard interview. A profile was compiled of the counsellor/therapist who does indeed function emotionally effectively, and eventually it served as the overarching aim of the counselling programme. It became clear that the effective functioning of the counsellor/therapist is directly linked to a process of healing which has taken place with regard to possible own emotional wounding and/or burnout and/or compassion fatigue. The result of this process is someone who is emotionally mature and also capable of maintaining good relationships and balanced emotional intimacy Concerning the practice-theoretical foundation, four basic themes were finally formulated by means of which progressive growth is accomplished. Firstly, the Christian counsellor becomes aware of important factors regarding his/her emotional life. Secondly, this process then flows over into deeper self-knowledge. The moment change regarding self-intimacy is brought about attention can thirdly be given to spiritual functioning. Fourthly, the individual who has received healing and enrichment can now utilise it in the work context in order to manage it better. / Thesis (M.A. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Searching for meaning within the real life experiences of frontline social workers working with clients involved in the illegal drug trade. There is a strong likelihood that during the course of a career a front line social worker will have the opportunity to work with a client who is or has been involved in the illegal drug trade. As there is essentially no existing research literature about social workers who work with clients involved in the illegal drug trade, one of the purposes of this research was to explore this experience from the perspective of front line social workers and bridge the gap in this research area. This qualitative interpretative analysis provided the opportunity to gain insight into and put meaning to the experiences and perceptions of the 11 frontline social workers as they work with clients involved in the illegal drug trade. This research also provides valuable information and implications for practice and for further research.

The political and economically based social system of neoliberalism fosters an individualistic perspective that informs people’s actions when confronted by a stranger in crisis. When a stranger is witnessed in crisis, the witness follows the lead of the neoliberal individualistic social structures that deny the plight of those in crisis. The stranger is feared and left to fend for herself in her plight. The creation of spectacles and imaginary notions of ‘stranger danger’ as combined with individuals having blasé attitudes reinforce an individualistic perspective. The mass media help in circulating an archive of images in which the stranger is dangerous, different and to be feared. Because these images are so available, and have become expected, compassion fatigue is set in motion when people are confronted with images of strangers in crisis; compassion fatigue is reinforced by the surrounding individualistic social structures.

Counselling as a profession has a decisive influence on the emotional functioning of the counsellor/therapist at both the professional and personal level. A unique emotional component is required of a counsellorltherapist. He/she as an emotional coach must have a special awareness of his/her own emotional processes so that adaptable emotional coping can be harnessed as a powerful therapeutic aid. In the past a void occurred within the context of the Christian counsellor/therapist concerning practical guidelines for managing the emotional life of the counsellor/therapist, which also is the specific focus of this study. A number of passages from the Bible were focused on from a basis theoretical point of departure, which is related to the emotional functioning of the Christian counsellor/therapist in one way or another. From this, among others, it became clear that God rather wishes to bring recovery, honour, renewal and joy instead of brokenness, grief and boundedness. During times of despondency, depression and burnout, God is involved and present in the Christian in a tender, though decisive manner. Rest as a physical, emotional and spiritual activity is also a command which is directly related to the execution of the calling to discipleship. Emotions are meant to be building blocks for fulfilment and joy in the Christian's life. Emotional intimacy and the self-disclosure associated with it, is the only way to grow spiritually and remain emotionally healthy. Life in Christ presents man with the essential foundation for this process. Hence emotion can be utilised to culture greater awareness of a deep dependence on God. In the lives of spiritual leaders, inner wounding often manifest as a noticeable separation1 splitting off between their mind and heart, public and private life, as well as personal and professional life. Like the counselled, the counsellor/therapist must do the necessary emotional work regarding his/her emotional pain so that emotional resolution and transformation can be accomplished. Deep inner wounds must eventually be "touched” in one way or another. Seen from the meta-theory, it became clear that the phenomena compassion fatigue and burnout normally indicates a period or season in which the humanness, fragility and weakness of the counsellor come to the fore. The treatment principle underlying compassion fatigue and burnout is increased self-esteem. A proactive choice of dealing with these phenomena can lead to a decisive levelling out of the phenomena compassion fatigue and burnout. Such action implies, among others, knowledge of the phenomena, self-care due to increased self-esteem, boundaries and a balanced view of discipleship. With regard to the empirical research, a qualitative research approach was followed by using a standard interview. A profile was compiled of the counsellor/therapist who does indeed function emotionally effectively, and eventually it served as the overarching aim of the counselling programme. It became clear that the effective functioning of the counsellor/therapist is directly linked to a process of healing which has taken place with regard to possible own emotional wounding and/or burnout and/or compassion fatigue. The result of this process is someone who is emotionally mature and also capable of maintaining good relationships and balanced emotional intimacy Concerning the practice-theoretical foundation, four basic themes were finally formulated by means of which progressive growth is accomplished. Firstly, the Christian counsellor becomes aware of important factors regarding his/her emotional life. Secondly, this process then flows over into deeper self-knowledge. The moment change regarding self-intimacy is brought about attention can thirdly be given to spiritual functioning. Fourthly, the individual who has received healing and enrichment can now utilise it in the work context in order to manage it better. / Thesis (M.A. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

South African society has been a ected either directly or indirectly by some degree of trauma. Therefore the presence of a trauma unit within a hospital created the ideal opportunity for novice trauma counsellors to have practical experience. The present research is an exploratory study, designed in accordance with ethno- graphic principles in order to understand the psychological e ects of trauma on novice trauma counsellors. It focuses on themes that reverberate throughout the participants narratives. Vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue are two such e ects that were explored in this study. Research into compassion fatigue and vi- carious trauma span over several decades and researchers have moved from merely describing the symptoms of secondary traumatic stress to explaining it in terms of models that highlight the role of various factors that contribute vicarious trauma or compassion fatigue. This study concludes with recommendations to counter the e ects of experiencing secondary trauma. / (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))