Individual and Relational Predictors of Compassion Fatigue Among Counselors-in-Training

Abstract

This interview is the fourth in the Lifetime Achievement in Counseling Series at TPC that presents an annual interview with a seminal figure who has attained outstanding achievement in counseling over a career. I am honored to present the interview of Liliana Sznaidman, a professional counselor in North Carolina. Ms. Sznaidman is the second practitioner to be interviewed for this annual series. Ms. Sznaidman is a licensed professional counselor and licensed professional counselor supervisor with over 20 years of clinical experience. She is currently the principal owner of a private practice where she provides counseling, clinical supervision, and consultation services. Joshua Smith and Dr. Neal Gray graciously accepted the assignment to interview Ms. Sznaidman. What follows are Ms. Sznaidman's reflections on her counseling career and its impact on her clients.-J. Scott Hinkle, Editor Liliana Sznaidman has over 20 years of experience as a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and licensed professional counselor supervisor (LPCS) in North Carolina. She currently owns a private practice where she provides counseling and psychotherapy to adults, couples, and young adult clients. She also provides clinical supervision and consultation services to pre-licensed counselors and other mental health professionals. Ms. Sznaidman received her master's degree in counseling at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Prior to her master's training, she completed a degree in early childhood education in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In addition to her LPC and LPCS, Ms. Sznaidman holds the credentials of National Certified Counselor and Approved Clinical Supervisor. She also has completed post-master's training in clinical supervision and has received extensive training in psychoanalytic theory and practice. Before going into private practice, Ms. Sznaidman worked as an outpatient psychotherapist providing family counseling services, and as a bilingual therapist. Ms. Sznaidman has been an advocate and asset to her community. She has conducted and co-facilitated psychoeducational groups in Spanish for Latinx adolescents and assisted in providing case management and referrals. Ms. Sznaidman has demonstrated service to the profession by serving as a field placement supervisor for master's-level student interns and provided professional presentations to community agencies. Ms. Sznaidman is a member of several professional organizations, including the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of North Carolina (LPCANC), where she was the president of the board of directors and helped to advocate for the inclusion of LPCs in continuing education opportunities. She also created the first mentoring program in the association. Ms. Sznaidman is an active member of the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA); the Pro Bono

The Impostor Phenomenon in Mental Health Professionals: Relationships Among Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and Compassion Satisfaction

“…In addition, higher levels of social support, emotional intelligence, emotion management, and adaptive coping strategies were negatively correlated with compassion fatigue among health care professionals (Zeidner et al, 2013). Can and Watson's (2019) study of counselors-intraining found that higher levels of resilience and wellness were associated with lower levels of compassion fatigue. Other factors associated with lower levels of compassion fatigue include the practice of mindfulness (Constantine- Brown et al, 2017;Thompson et al, 2014); specialized trauma training (Sprang et al, 2007); higher levels of selfdifferentiation, professional self-esteem, and perceived marital quality (Finzi-Dottan & Kormosh, 2018); possessing a sense of coherence (Linley & Joseph, 2007) and use of an evidence-based therapy model (Craig & Sprang, 2010).…”

“…In contrast, the debilitating impact of compassion fatigue on mental health professionals has been well documented (Adams et al, 2006;Can & Watson, 2019;Martin-Cuellar, 2019;O'Brien & Haaga, 2015;Wagaman et al, 2015). Defined as a form of caregiver burnout developed by those who work with traumatized individuals (Figley, 2002), the construct of compassion fatigue incorporates two components.…”

Pouring from an Empty Cup: The Case for Compassion Fatigue in Higher Education

“…Neglecting one's self-care has been cited as a risk factor for developing compassion fatigue (Ray, Wong, White, & Heaslip, 2012), and like other professions, offsetting student-care with self-care can be a challenge for some (Can & Watson, 2019). Given that there has been a long-standing stigma that self-care is self-indulging or a personal luxury, it can prove challenging for some to make the paradigm shift (Carroll, Gilroy, & Murra, 1999).…”

Training Considerations for Providers Engaged in Refugee Mental Health Care

“…There is substantial evidence indicating that novice therapists are more susceptible to developing CF or vicarious trauma reactions. In particular, working with severely traumatized refugee patients poses risks for therapists in training (Can & Watson, 2019; Carmel & Friedlander, 2009; Craig & Sprang, 2010; Skovholt & Trotter-Mathison, 2011; Voss Horrell et al, 2011). Providing care for this population might invoke difficult emotions and traumatic reactions in a supervisee tapping into their dissociated self-states (see Bromberg, 2006), which might lead to CF and VT.…”