Working in behavioral health is undeniably tough. Each day, you support patients who are facing significant challenges in a bid to help them achieve a healthier way of living. Unfortunately, behavioral health professionals often come under a lot of strain. Shouldering the emotional burdens of others is a difficult task, and it often leads to a lack of care for yourself. Whether you’re working through a tough point in your career or you’re trying to figure out what to do next, I’m here with some winning advice.
Meet your client where they are
It sounds cliché, but I draw back on my experience as a freshly minted social worker. I was eager to “save my patients;” I wanted to set up the perfect treatment plan for them. I wanted to give each of my patients the VIP treatment. While this was admirable in some ways, I found myself becoming frustrated each time my patient was readmitted. “I gave you the perfect discharge plan! We did so much great work; what happened; why are you back ?!?!” I vented to my supervisor and she gave me some awesome advice, “this is their journey- not yours. Our job is to meet them wherever they are in the journey and not where we think they should be.” When she said that, something changed; the pressure I put on myself to “save” my clients changed and, in turn, the pressure I put on them changed as well. It took some time, but this is where I learned to truly collaborate with clients and their families. When things didn’t work, instead of getting annoyed- it was an opportunity to brainstorm and re-evaluate.
Are you setting unrealistic expectations for yourself and your client? Are you having trouble transitioning from savior to collaborator? At Curis, we’d be happy to help you examine the obstacles.
Don’t take it personally
Oftentimes, our clients are not at their best when they come to us. During your career, you will encounter people who will push your buttons. Sometimes, they are aware of it and sometimes they aren’t. As a professional, it is your job to refrain from engaging when someone is hurling insults. However, we all have feelings and sometimes, we carry those insults and that energy with us throughout the day/ shift. Sometimes, we even take it home with us. We often focus on de-esclataing the person in crisis, but those working in behavioral health also need to de-escalate following a critical incident or a potentially threatening situation. Do you have a place where you can de-escalate? Are you aware of exercises you can do to relieve the tension?
In coaching, we focus on how to take the power away from triggering words/ actions so it doesn’t affect your work day or your home life.
Identify who to turn to for emotional support
Many behavioral health professionals find themselves facing situations few people will encounter. This is especially the case when working with those who have suffered due to substance abuse or who have PTSD.
If you don’t already know who you will turn to for emotional support, make a note of a few people who could listen to your worries. Having a designated person to offload to when times get tough helps you work through emotional challenges faster. As a result, you can face each day with a renewed clarity that makes you better at your job.
Venting can be used as an opportunity to change frustrations into action plans to improve your outlook about work and about your career. At Curis, we’ll help you unpack your frustrations and then create a plan to help you feel grounded.
Ensure you engage in self-care
Working in a hectic environment often results in allowing self-care to fall to one side. Too many of us are guilty of using self-care as a reactive measure rather than a preventative step.
If you recognize that self-care is a necessary preventative act, now’s the time to start prioritizing it. As a career coach, I’ve seen how those who care for others are struggle to initiate self-care for their own benefit. One of the best ways you can overcome this is to sit down and look at areas of your life where your habits aren’t the best. For example, sleep, diet, and socializing. Then, write down activities that fill you with joy. After completing your lists, identify ways to make changes to poor lifestyle habits and prioritize your hobbies.
Consider behavioral health professional leadership roles
Dedicating years to working as a behavioral health professional positions you perfectly for leading others through their careers. If you already find that your colleagues turn to you for guidance, it may be time for you to step into a leadership role.
Progressing your career to a leadership level allows you to shape the behavioral health professionals of tomorrow. The chances are, you’re already doing this, but not on an official level. If you’re intrigued by the idea of taking on a leadership role, I can assist you with my career development services. Together, we can identify where you want your career to go and how to get there.
You make an invaluable contribution to other people’s lives. If you’re ready to enhance your personal and career development, I’m ready to help. Call 516 712 6880 to discuss your coaching options.
