Ten Tried and True Methods to Achieve THERAPIST BURNOUT
By Richard Belson
Today I visited with a social work friend of mine who has been in the field for decades. She knows me very well and when I was telling her about my insane schedule when I was in school (working 30 hours a week, placement and 3 or4 classes), she told me she was surprised I was not burned out at the age of 24. She said "Acie when you start working in the field of social work it is very easy to work insane hours, feel guilty about taking time off and continously thinking about how you could make a programme better, or come up with a new approach for client. She said especially since you want to do outreach work, there will always be the need for your help, there will never be enough funding and you will always feel like you are not doing enough or could do more. She said you need to becareful because you are an overachiever and I can see you doing 70 hours a week and spending your "free time" thinking about what you need to do to make the lives of your clients better. And after a couple of years, you will be useless, because you will have nothing left to give, you will be all worn out". This person means a lot to me and I took her advice seriously and will continue to try to remind myself of her words if I find myself taking on too much. She gave me this handout "the ten was to achieve therapist burnout." It is funny and sarcastic, but in many circumstances are true. Since a lot of my friends are in social work or in the social service field, I thought I would tell you about a few of them.
1. "Take on lots of hard cases and see them one after an other, preferably three or four in a row. Think about them even when not at work- dinner and at 3 am are good times".
2. "Base yourself esteem exclusively on your work. Don't seek a personal life, your clients need you too much"
3. "Believe you can be a winner with every case. Whether it involves affairs, obessions, narcissism, bulimia, depressed people who can't start laughing, manic people who can't stop laughing-bring them on! And remember if there's no progress, its your fault".
Its food for thought and I dont want to see any of my friends become burnt out, I love and care for you guys too much for that to happen.

Intent To Graduate!!!!

At Mac and probably at many other universities and colleges, you have to fill out a form that states that you are planning on graduating. Its kinda funny, because obviously everyone who has completed their degree requirements would like to receive their degree. I cant see anyone going through all that work and heart ache that would say "hey I dont want my degree, the university can keep it". Anyways, i guess they just do it to keep track of everyone and what programme they are in. Well I finally filled out that form on thursday and it kinda brought a feeling of finality for me. I am finally done, I AM GOING TO GRADUATE. It was pretty exciting filling out that form for me, as their has been many times I did not think I would ever finish and many days I seriously considered dropping out. Plus, going part-time the last couple of years and it taking me almost 6 years to complete my degrees, there were many times I could not even see the end, "the finish line" I often called it. But it is something that I definately wanted and did everything I could to make this reality come true. The degree means so much more to me than a piece a paper, university has been difficult for me in so many ways, it represents survival, acheviement and an inability to not give up. So in june when I finally receive that peice of paper I worked so hard to get, there will definately be a party. A kick ass one at that.

Where has my head been lately?

I swear if my head was not attached to my neck I would of lost it this past week. I have been doing some of the most supidist things, that are usually unlike me (I do lots of stupid stuff, but what I am going to mention is not apart of my regular stupidity). Okay, in the past 7 days I have lost my gloves (my toronto maple leafs ones, that i liked so much), would have left my bag on the bus, but luckly a friend of mine told me that I had forgot it. I have paid for tea and then walked away without it, but after I lit my smoke realized that i forgot it and went back to get it. Bought coffee at second cup and left without getting the change. And the one that beats all of these things, is last thursday I was so focused on what was going on in my head, I stepped into oncoming traffic and was almost hit by a car. Luckly, I was able to refocus quickly and step back on to the curb. The worst part of that whole incident, is that what I was thinking about was not important at all. At least, if it was a really important thought like "whats my purpose in life", I might understand being nearly hit by a car, but thinking about where I am going to buy cigarettes is not something I should risk my life over. Although I do like to smoke. Anyways, I think I need to sleep more or something, because all of these things are pretty rediculous and lets not forget to mention the fact, they make me look like an idiot.

Hey ya.
I am finally a blogger. Many of my friends have had blogs for a while and I have longed to have to one myself, but didnt know if I would have a lot to say. So we will see how it goes. So for those who dont know me I am 24, living in hamilton, Canada and just completed the requirements for my social work and sociology degree. I figure since this is my first post I would tell ya all about some of my favorites, the things that I love and some of the things that I dont like and find annoying. For those who know me this will be a reminder or will fill you in about some of the quirky facts about me.
Fav colour is blue (perferably dark or baby blue)
Fav number is 3 (it is the number i have woren for every sport team I have ever played on, not exactly sure where the love affair with this number stems from but I do believe it was Babe Ruths number.
I love sports, pretty much everything, from curling to hockey. But I would have to say my fav is softball. It is a sport I played for a long time and this summer was the first I have not played in a long time (I miss it).
Fav artist: This is difficult because there are many singers and bands that I love but I would have to say Sarah Mclachlan is my all time fav. She is a wonderful song writter, has an amazing voice and some of her songs touch me deeply.
I am a big supporter of canadian music Our Lady of Peace, K.D Lang, Leonard Cohen, Ann Murry, Pearl Jam, Jan Arden, Bare Naked Ladies too name a few.
But I also need to mention that I love the following: Annie Lennox, Tracy Chapman, R.E.M, rolling stones, U2, Joss stone, Madonna, Bob Dylan (I think I am going to stop b/c I could go on for ever about this topic.
Can pic a fav song, I love too many. But recently in my head has been "why" by Annie Lennox and "run for life" melissa ethridge (ooops I forgot her, add her to the fav music list).
Fav movies: fried green tomatoes, finding nemo, boys on the side, million dollar baby, big fish (same as the music I could go on forever.)
Fav comedians (because laughter is so important) Gilda Radner, Johnny Carson, Ellen, Roseann.
I love nice, caring, socially aware people. People who do not only think of themselves, but are concerned with how their actions may impact others. People who worry about people they may never meet, the suffering of others that they may never experience, but try to help and understand the best way they can.
I love my friends and my family.
Shout out to my little sister who i love more than life itself and pls spread this message to our parents who do not use the computer.
My friends, you know who you are. You have been with me through the good, bad and ugly and always find a way to make me laugh in the toughest situations. I love you guys.
I love my soulmate, best bud, common law partner, the one I am going to grow old with. Thats you Noa. She helps me take my life less seriously, always make me laugh and listens to me rant at any given hour.
Okay for some of the things that I dont like:
Mean people, shoplifters that strangle me.
People with no personality and cant laugh at themselves.
Birds. All kinds, sizes, colours. (Tramatic experinence as a child that involved geese attacking me, enough about that).
People who are not polite.
Waiting. I have no patience for waiting for things, like buses, in lines etc. But I have lots of patience for people.
Scary movies
Well thats all I think of for now, but I think its enough for one post. Please introduce yourself if I dont know you and if do know you tell me some fun and interesting things about yourselves.