Self-Care for Pastors

1. Self-Care for Pastors Presenter: Rev. Torin T. Sanders, Ph.D., LCSW

2. The Big Question 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 King James Version (KJV) 3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (How comfortable are you?)

3. Are you on “E”

4. Who is Torin Sanders? • Pastor for 21 years • Clinical Social Worker for almost 30 years • Assistant Professor, SUNO School of SW • Graduate of Howard University • Master’s and Doctorate from Tulane Univ.

5. CLERGY INTRODUCTIONS • Name & Church • How long in the pastorate • What would you like from today?

6. Objectives: As a result of this workshop, participants will be able to: Identify & describe the elements of burnout And compassion fatigue, as it applies to clergy and pastors. Identify at least two possible sources of stress in the workplace (ministry) and/or personal lives.

7. Objectives To develop and implement a plan of self-care to reduce the presence of burnout and compassion fatigue in our lives.

8. BURNOUT SCALE 10 MINUTES

9. What does the Pastor do? The Pastor’s Job Description

10. WHAT ARE THE WAYS OUR WORK MAY AFFECT US?

11. Symptoms of Stress high blood pressure diarrhea Headache stomach upset tooth grinding clenched jaws back pain shortness of breath skin problems Chest pain Weight gain or loss constipation sleep problems

12. What is Stress? The most commonly accepted definition of stress (mainly attributed to Richard S. Lazarus) is that stress is a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize.

13. Cost of Stress Stress accounts for two-thirds of family doctor visits. Stress has been implicated in heart, stomach and mental disorders, along with the more ordinary headaches, backaches and high blood pressure and cholesterol. Kiecolt-Glaser's 10-year study of medical students found decreased levels of the body's natural killer cells, which fight infections and tumors, during even the familiar stress periods of exams. Source Sickness Can Be Price of Unbridled StressBy Kevin Lamb

14. Burnout and Compassion Fatigue

15. Burnout • Gradual Onset • “a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion caused by long term involvement in emotionally demanding situations.”(Nelson-Gardell, 2003) • “the index of the dislocation between what people are and what they have to do.”(Maslach, Leiter, 1997) • “describes a syndrome that goes beyond physical fatigue from overwork. Stress and emotional exhaustion are a part of it, but the hallmark of burnout is the distancing that goes on in response to overload.”(Maslach, 1997)

16. Burnout: Indicators • Erosion in values, dignity, spirit and will-an erosion of the human soul • Over time; imbalance of what you can give and provides less than what you need • Feel overworked, undervalued, no longer in control of the job you do • Presence of negative emotions and the absence of positive ones Sensibilities, Inc. 2005

17. Compassion Fatigue Referred to as the “cost of caring” for others; includes exhaustion; an inability to refuel and the loss of ability to feel compassion.

18. Signs and Symptoms • Tired • Less socializing • Lower productivity • Hopelessness • Despair • Cynicism • Question humanity • Persistent anger or sadness • Disturbing mental images • Anxiety • Nightmares • Decreased sense of safety (Siegfried, 2008)

19. It is NOT a sign of weakness Burnout & Compassion Fatigue is a real issue for helping professionals. Although there is likely no way to avoid it altogether, there are ways to mitigate the effects. Just as individuals need take responsibility for their own emotional health, organizations need to take responsibility for their employee’s well-being

20. BREAK

21. Self Care SPIRITUAL MANDATE & PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

22. SELF CARE STRATEGIES PART 1

23. ASK FOR HELP Who do you trust to tell when you may be feeling overwhelmed? Is your resource list long enough?

24. Guidelines for Successful Self Care Establish clear, specific obtainable goals. Start small changes to managing stress. Start from where you are, and build towards your goal. Make one change at a time. Plan ways to manage stress. Reward yourself for good work. Look for ways to control your life. Manage stress on a daily basis. Find humor and laugh.

25. SELF CARE SELF -ASSESSMENT

26. SELF CARE ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS • What did you learn/see about yourself? -Surprises? -Confirmations? -Areas of strength -Areas of challenge

27. LUNCH

28. SELF-CARE STRATEGIES PART 2

29. SELF EFFICACY Having the skills & competencies to achieve tasks

30. Threats to Self Efficacy Must be liked and respected Hard work makes everything fall into place

31. Threats to Self Efficacy • Must be successful with each member • Must be the very best (audience of one)

32. Self Management Set priorities & goals – When will I not preach? Supportive supervision

33. Time Management Stephen Covey Urgent & Important Urgent & Not Important

34. Time Management Not urgent but important Not urgent & Not important

35. RELAXATION Breathing Progressive Muscle Relaxation Mindfulness Yoga/Meditation Visual Imagery

36. A Real Plan of Action USE FORM

37. STAGES OF CHANGE

38. THE CHANGE MODEL • PRE CONTEMPLATION • CONTEMPLATION • PREPARATION • ACTION • MAINTENANCE • RELAPSE

39. WHEN THE WELL IS DRY, WE KNOW THE WORTH OF WATER BEN FRANKLIN

40. SUMMARY & CLOSING • MAJOR THOUGHTS • EVALUATION • NEXT STEPS

41. Contact Info: www.torinsanders.com pastorsanders@cox.net 504-579-4499

42. Thank You!Be strong in the Lord! • 

43. References Bride, B., Jones, J., MacMaster, S. (2007). Correlates of Secondary Traumatic Stress in Child Protective Services Workers. Hawthorne Press, Inc. Retrieved on August 1, 2008 from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org Brohl, K. (2006). Understanding and Preventing Worker Burnout: Do I have burnout, or am I just fatigued by my compassion? Child Welfare League of America. Retrieved on August 11, 2008 from http://www.cwla.org/voice/0609management.htm Caringi, J.C. (2007). Secondary Traumatic Stress in New York State Child Welfare Worrkers. Dissertation, University at Albany, State University of new York. Retrieved on July 18, 2008 from http://proquest.umi.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/pqdweb?index=0&did=1421616261&SrchMode=2&sid=1&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1218849102&clientId=70192 Horwitz, M. (1998). Social Worker Trauma: Building Resilience in Child Protection Social Workers. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 68(3). June 1998. Retrieved on August 1, 2008 from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org

44. References, con’t Nelson-Gardell, D., Harris, D. (2003). Childhood Abuse History, Secondary Traumatic Stress and Child Welfare Workers. Child Welfare League of America. Retrieved on August 6, 2008 from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org Perry, B. (2003). The Cost of Caring: Secondary Traumatic Stress and the Impact of Working With High-Risk Children and Families. The Child Trauma Academy. Retrieved on July 7, 2008 from http://www.childtrauma.org/ctamaterials/SecTrma2_03_v2.pdf Siegfried, C. (2008). Child Welfare Work and Secondary Traumatic Stress. National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, UCLA. Module 6, Activity 6C. Retrieved on July 18, 2008 from http://www.nctsnet.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/cwt3_sho_sts.pdf Weiten, W. (2008). Psychology Themes & Variations (7th ed.). Belmont, CA. Thompson Learning, Inc.