by Caitlin O. Mahoney, Ph.D. The experience of compassion fatigue is common among people who work with people, but the job was challenging for other reasons too. Harder saw clients move on and then come back to the shelter, prompting questions about whether she was effective at her job. Could she have done more? Did she fail them? And despite singular successes, another client was always waiting; homelessness itself seemed unrelenting. She might rejoice that she had helped one family secure a place to stay, and in the next moment, another family that needed help would walk through her door (a dynamic she’s coined “the revolving door”). Harder felt like she was treading water. She was not alone. During her time in direct service, Harder noticed many colleagues develop symptoms of emotional exhaustion, detachment, and diminished sense of accomplishment—indicators that she now understands point to the experience of “burnout.” She watched as some of her co-workers left the job for another, while others left the field completely. She notes that a sense of pride may prohibit those that stay from admitting their own exhaustion. “Many love the work they’re doing, believe in its value, and experience burnout as a personal failing.” Caregivers may also feel guilty about taking time for self-care, which itself may exacerbate stress when it becomes another thing to do atop an already growing ‘to do’ list. Ultimately, Harder left her job in advocacy to pursue a master’s degree in psychology at Metropolitan State, where she devoted her studies to better understanding the experience of work stress and burnout. Through her research, she found that when staff suffers, clients also suffer. She has come to believe that “in order to help others be well, we must first be well ourselves.” She emphasizes that beyond individual responsibility for wellness, “organizations and leadership play a key role in staff well-being. Organizations and practitioners alike must commit to well-being in order to effectively serve their clientele.” Harder earned her MA in psychology in 2014 and was named the outstanding graduate student in her college. Since 2015, she has worked as community faculty, teaching courses in Positive Psychology and Group Dynamics. She continues her program of research in partnership with Professor Caitlin Mahoney (psychology/CCSPA) and in active collaboration with Metropolitan State’s psychology laboratory. Currently, Harder and Mahoney (along with psychology interns Mimosa Greer ’17 and Davionna Hicks ’18) are investigating the effects of practitioners’ stress on their approach and potential for success with clients, a study which includes collecting saliva samples from volunteers to test for the presence of stress hormones. The team is working closely with the university’s human subjects pool, which provides undergraduates opportunities to participate in research on campus. Harder and Mahoney hope to take what they’ve learned and translate it for use by community organizations to promote staff well-being and effective client service. To that end, Harder has recently launched her own workplace consulting company. Happy With Work LLC will deliver the first of its training programs this year at beloved craft breweries and coffee shops across the Twin Cities. The Self-Care Social Series will offer short topical trainings, focused on stress, burnout, and self-care practices for a busy life. Harder is “excited to be able to give back to the community of social service workers, whom I love so much." Originally published in Metropolitan State University buzznews (2018, Spring).
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DESCRIPTIONThis 'Blog' highlights varied research endeavors. Where noted, entries are written by my students, themselves.
AuthorCAITLIN O. MAHONEY, PhD. Categories
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