An Ethical Response to Self-Care
In the best of all worlds, the human service provider will be insulated from the possibility of burnout and/or compassion fatigue. However, human service is by definition a form of one-way giving, therefore in the absence of the practitioner’s emotional replenishment, he or she will soon run dry.
Principle Burnout Empathy Fatigue
Promoting well-being/welfare of the client
Establishing, maintaining professional boundaries
Respecting client autonomy
Respecting client privacy
Providing competence service
Termination of service
Thus, while absolute protection and insulation from these conditions is not possible, measures can be taken that will reduce the risk. Understanding and implementing preventative measures as counteraction to the possibili- ties of burnout and compassion fatigue is not only a rational response to self-care but also truly an ethical one. As noted by Parsons & Zhang, “One cannot foster health and well-being in another if such is lacking in oneself”.
Self-care is essential to ethical, competent practice. The ethics of self- care have been made clear by a number of our professional organizations. The ACA, for example, directs counselors to “engage in self-care activi- ties to maintain and promote their own emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual well-being to best meet their professional responsibilities”
