Live with Less Stress, Learn to Decompress: Managing Burnout in Child Life Nabil El-Ghoroury, PhD, CAE Executive Therapy & Consulting Alexandria, VA
The last 3 years have been stressful for most people, particularly the child life profession. The pandemic created new levels of stress in determining how to support children’s needs while protecting staff from COVID. Additional stressors included Zoom schooling for those who are parents and economic challenges that threatened the employers of child life professionals. Navigating these stressful moments is critical for child life professionals to feel better and perform at their best.
In this session, I will teach attendees to identify different ways that stress impacts the mind and body, including the difference between stress and burnout. We will cover the symptoms that might indicate that child life professionals might need help from a licensed mental health professional like a psychologist. Finally, we will end with a set of helpful strategies to help child life professionals manage their stress more effectively. These tips include activities to do before diving into work, while they are working, and as they transition out of work in the evening. Learning to decompress at each of these times will help child life professionals manage stress more effectively and prevent burnout.
Suggested domain: Professional Responsibility
Objectives:
Understand the distinction between stress and burnout.
Recognize symptoms that may indicate the need for mental health services
Learn at least 3 strategies for managing stress and preventing burnout.
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