Walk-In Counseling Center The practice of psychology can be demanding, challenging, and emotionally taxing. Failure to adequately attend to one's own psychological wellness and self-care can place the psychologist at risk for impaired professional functioning. An ongoing focus on self-care is essential for the prevention of burnout and for maintaining one's own psychological wellness. Salient aspects of self-care are discussed, including the ethical imperative of addressing self-care throughout one's career. Three invited expert commentaries provide additional insights and recommendations on positive actions, preventive strategies, and steps to be taken by individual psychologists, by those training the next generation of psychologists, and by professional associations. Realities of the current state of psychology and a clear call for action are highlighted, with the overarching goal being the ethical and effective treatment of clients and the successful management of the challenges and stresses faced by practicing psychologists.
I congratulate Forrest, Elman, Gizara, and Vacha-Haase (1999 [this issue]) on a fine piece of research and writing that covers the topic of trainee impairment in more depth than anything in print. I generally agree with their observations and conclusions but would like to extend the discussion further in several areas.
NOT AS A STRANGER-TRAINING PSYCHOTHERAPISTS AND COUNSELORSBetween the third and second centuries B.C., someone authored an oath that became part of a body of medical writings termed the Corpus Hippocratum by historians, stored in the Library of Alexandria, one of the great libraries of the ancient world. Now called the Oath of Hippocrates, in taking this oath early, medical practitioners promised that "in purity and holiness," they would "guard their life and their art." Often cited today for its proscriptions concerning sex with clients, it is rarely noted for an even longer passage in which the physician promises to hold he who taught the art of medicine as "equal to my parents." It goes on to promise that the student will help the teacher financially, teach the children of the teacher the art of medicine, and hold them equal to his brothers.The field of psychology, in part a descendent of early medicine, is also a field dependent on an apprenticeship model of training. Demonstration, case examples, videotapes, practica, and internships all involve apprenticeshiptype training. As a result, some of those who teach form close relationships with students as well as directly instructing them. Furthermore, the public relies on the effectiveness of our training and presumes that those who graduate are fully able to provide service that is effective and safe. It is within this context that we ponder the issue of trainee impairment and what can be done about it.Not only are trainer and trainee often closely involved, but the field we are in requires that the practitioner not only use tools but also be the tool. Part of counseling, psychotherapy, and teaching in our field depends on who we are as people. This includes our personal adjustment, both long-term and short-693
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