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

Beaumont, EA; Durkin, M; Hollins-Martin, CJ; Carson, J

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

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: Oct 1, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Dec 19, 2015
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Dec 16, 2015
• Journal: Counselling and Psychotherapy Research
• Print ISSN: 1473-3145
• Electronic ISSN: 1746-1405
• Publisher: Wiley
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 15-23
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12054
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/capr.12054
• Related Public URLs: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rcpr20/current