Ask the Stress Doc -- Q & A

1) Caseworker Paper Pushing Blues
2) Interdisciplinary Turf Battles

Q. As a CPS (Child Protective Services) Caseworker, we are spread too thin and I'm burning out. What do you do when you are hired as a social worker, but told you "do too much social work." I'm a caseworker, but we must do our own court petitions, correspondence, filing, always more paperwork and, oh yes, go see your clients, but don't get involved. What about the kids? I am burned out - do I keep going or give up? (NO NAME PLEASE.)

A. Actually, a similar issue recently came up in a Program Committee of the Metro-Dc Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. (I'm a member.) I mention this, first, to emphasize that you are not alone. And second, because of the issue's scope, it needs to be approached both on macroscopic and microscopic levels. On the macro level, some profession wide advocacy issues need to be raised. Pressure needs to be brought to bear by or upon upper management. Professional associations, political representatives, even the press, may need to address and redress the hurtful imbalance between providing efficent and effective human service and creating a paper trail.

On a micro level, I would, as a department, try to have caseworkers, supervisors and management try to establish a "good enough" balance that recognized resources and personnel realities, needs of clients and needs and endurance limits of professionals. sometimes it helps to bring an outside consultant to address these hot issues. (My motto: "Have Stress? Will Travel!)

Also, to keep you from sinking, regular aerobic exercise and an outside support group may help in the short run. Come join my "Shrink Rap and Group Chat" stress support group on Tuesdays, 9-10:30pm EST.

Fianlly, some jobs are not meant to last a lifetime...or anywhere closr to that. If management won't grapple with the real issues you raise, you may need to move on, and resist macro and/or micro interventions, you may need to move on. I'm not advocating abandoning the children, but if you sart truly burning out, then you won't be in much of a position to help them anyway. Remember: Burnout is less a sign of failure and more a sign that you gave yourself away!

To the good fight and, of course...Practice Safe Stress!

Q. I'm so glad that I found your web site. I have been dealing with a school year from hell. I am a Director/Teacher of a Preschool in a large school district. This Preschool is inclusive; special education students, at risk students and typical students. BUT the majority of the students are special education and intense. For example, I have a total of six autistic students and a set of down-syndrome twins!!!!! I have a morning and an afternoon session with two group leaders and then a specialist. The specialists are an OT, Speech/Lang. Therapist and and Early Childhood Special Education Teacher...Anyway, I am in burn out and ready to break out!!!! I really like what I do, but I am tired of Specialists who think they know it all and know the children so well, when they are there one to one and a half days a week. I respect their book knowledge and their experience, but feel they need to respect mine as well. (I've worked with several teams at this point and I have gotten the same disrespect.) I'm also burned out with the intense children. I feel there are so many needs and not enough time or energy to meet the needs. For the most part I am feeling that the at-risk or typical children are getting NO interaction from the teachers, because we are continually working with the special needs children or the single at-risk student who has made himself known. HELP!!!! I have lots of anger at this point and am reading and trying to deal with this in a mature and professional manner. HELP!!!! Thank-you for listening.

A. Yes, the children you are workin with are challenging enough. You shouldn't be in a situation where you must battle your colleagues. Interdisciplinary work settings pose a special challenge. Each individual or professional group views reality or problems from their particular knowledge base and vantage point. And in a managed scare/scarcity world of insufficient resources, invariably there are turf warfares. I won't even begin to mention the sibling-like rivalry that can develop, especially if some dysfunctional people and/or work processes and structures are already in place.

I would first try speaking with a higher up in the organizational hierarchy. Perhaps help this manager recognize that some team building is needed. And it often helps to bring in a conflict resolution specialist in this area. Primal scream sessions are not the answer. With progress in this area there should be more energy and time for all the kids.

Good luck and...Practice Safe Stress!

Mark Gorkin, LICSW, the Stress Doc, a psychotherapist and nationally recognized speaker, trainer, consultant and author, is also known as AOL's and the internet's "Online Psychohumorist" ™. Check out his USA Today Online "Hot Site" website - www.stressdoc.com  and his page on AOL/Online Psych, Keyword: Stress Doc

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