Measuring relationships between self-compassion, compassion fatigue, burnout and well-being in student counsellors and student cognitive behavioural psychotherapists: a quantitative survey

Beaumont, Elaine; Durkin, Mark; Hollins Martin, Caroline J; Carson, Jerome

Abstract

Background: Prolonged deficiency in self-care strategies puts counsellors and psychotherapists at risk of burnout and compassion fatigue.
Aim: To measure associations between self-compassion, compassion fatigue, wellbeing and burnout in student counsellors and student cognitive behavioural psychotherapists.
Method: A quantitative survey using four validated data collection instruments: (1) Professional Quality of Life Scale; (2) Self-Compassion Scale; (3) short Warwick and Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale; (4) Compassion For Others scale, was used to measure relationships between self-compassion, compassion fatigue, well-being and burnout. Participants: A mixed sample of student counsellors and student cognitive behavioural psychotherapists (n = 54) in their final year of study.
Results: This preliminary study shows that student counsellors and student cognitive behavioural psychotherapists who reported high on measures of self-compassion and well-being also reported less compassion fatigue and burnout.
Implications for practice: Compassion fatigue and burnout are found in many modern-day, highly stressful healthcare professions. The practice of self-compassion could help student practitioners manage these symptoms and subsequently improve their professional quality of life.

Citation

Beaumont, E., Durkin, M., Hollins Martin, C. J., & Carson, J. (2016). Measuring relationships between self-compassion, compassion fatigue, burnout and well-being in student counsellors and student cognitive behavioural psychotherapists: a quantitative survey. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 16(1), 15-23. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12054

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 19, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Dec 19, 2015
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Deposit Date: Jan 18, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 20, 2017
• Journal: Counselling and Psychotherapy Research
• Print ISSN: 1473-3145
• Electronic ISSN: 1746-1405
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 15-23
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12054
• Keywords: Applied Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Psychiatry and Mental health
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/9445
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/capr.12054
• Additional Information: A video abstract of this article can be viewed at: https://vimeo.com/150762974