Author: Michal Peretz | Published on July 11,2025 | Blog Last Updated on Aug 26, 2025 | Time: 5:06 AM

Self-Care in Social Work

According to Cox and Steiner (2013) Self-Care in Social Work: A Guide for Practitioners, Supervisors, and Administrators, burnout is the relatively frequent outcome of chronic stress that has received considerable attention. Burnout is a complex phenomenon that spans across professional, interpersonal, family, and societal environments. From the lens of a professional burnout, burnout is characterized by high workload demands, resulting in energy drain of the social worker.

Symptoms to look out for when working with victims are:

1.) excessive work demands with inadequate resources leading to fatigue, decreased empathy, exhaustion, disassociation, irritability, numbness etc.

2.) lack of control in outcomes (e.g., limited influence to help support victims, having to be responsible or have high levels of accountability with limited work powers)

3.) low reward (low pay, recognition, or job satisfaction)

4.) social isolation (lack of community, maybe lack of supportive services)

5.) lack of fairness (to clients experiencing discrimination, preferential treatment, inequity)

6.) conflicts in values (e.g., losing sense of purpose or meaning, or ethical dilemmas (Cox and Steiner, 2013).

According to Dr. Hilary Cobb, when using the example research of an agency director for child welfare services to address the problem of why her employees are experiencing burnout and whether high workloads are the cause, she explains that burnout occurs when demands such as high caseloads contribute to higher rates of burnout among employees. When I am working in a high-stress job, such as working with victims, signs and symptoms of burnout to look out for in myself include having more demands on my time than the resources (coping skills) available to address them. For example, I may experience secondary trauma or develop compassion fatigue by hearing victims’ stories, which may lead to burnout. I might also observe stressors in my co-workers (e.g., financial difficulties, drug or alcohol abuse, personal relationship or family issues), which could contribute to their experiencing burnout (Cobb, 2024).

It is important to set aside time for self-care to avoid burn out or compassion fatigue.

Self-care can be divided into two main categories:

lifestyle choices and workplace adaptations.

Following a good exercise routine, diet, monthly budget planning, adequate sleep can help reduce stress (e.g., cortisol and adrenaline) in the body. Limiting screentime, cell phone usage or doom scrolling. Planning in advance such as grocery shopping, having fun, meditation, walking in nature, setting healthy boundaries with clients, are all ways to avoid burnout or compassion fatigue (Cox and Steiner, 2013).

Compassion fatigue, which differs from burnout, refers to the emotional strain that arises from continual empathetic engagement with clients in distress. This challenge was heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic, as counselors faced similar traumas themselves and had limited self-care options. Bentley (2022) explains that while empathy can sometimes lead to emotional overwhelm, compassion-viewed as empathy combined with intentional action, offers a healthier, more sustainable approach. Practices such as mindfulness, loving-kindness meditation, and self-compassion are effective strategies to reduce fatigue and support staff well-being (Bentley, 2022).

According to Elliott Connie from Solution Focused Universe, to reduce compassion fatigue, it’s important to practice in a way that aligns with your values and energizes you, such as choosing therapeutic methods that inspire rather than drain. If burnout stems from a toxic work environment, changing settings can greatly improve your well-being. Additionally, reconnecting with hobbies and joyful activities helps preserve your sense of vitality and balance beyond the demands of professional life (The Solution Focused Universe, 2022).

I absolutely have experienced burnout now that I know the signs and symptoms. Now that I'm older, I now have the necessary skills such as emotional regulation, self-care techniques, healthier boundaries, and a stronger sense of self-awareness and self-worth to adequately address any challenges in the workplace to mitigate burnout or compassion fatigue.

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