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Clinicians in Recovery: Identifying Burnout and Relapse Tendencies
Contributor: Amy M. Klimek, MA, LCPC, Director of Program Development, Eating Disorder Program Coordinator, Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center
Many individuals who have found healing and recovery from an eating disorder will feel compelled to give back to the community in some shape or form. A particular clinician or professional who supported recovery efforts during the treatment process may have inspired others.
Whatever the scenario might be, it is not uncommon for recovered individuals to come back to the eating disorder treatment field and community, this time as a practicing clinician.
Whether as a therapist, dietitian, nurse, or any other profession, recovered clinicians have an ability to understand their patients and clients in a profound way, due to their first-hand experience.
Understanding Burnout Tendencies
Combining knowledge and experience, recovered clinicians often have the capacity to meaningfully contribute to the lives of those recovering from eating disorders. However, because of the nature and complexities of eating disorders themselves, there is also a sense of vulnerability that comes with treating patients with mental illness. This might be especially true for a clinician with a history of eating disorders and/or other mental illnesses.
Some recovered clinicians might find various aspects of their job or environment triggering to their own recovery efforts. This might include working with patients who have experienced trauma or abuse or who may be dealing with depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders. The nature of the job itself might be a trigger if not met with adequate self-care and established boundaries.
Working long hours or extended time without breaks, having minimal support or supervision, and/or having inadequate coping mechanisms can all lead to burnout on the job. The experience of burnout can be described as a state of emotional, physical, and/or mental stress, which may couple with self-doubts about one’s value and competency in the workplace. Burnout can be extremely triggering for a clinician who is also in recovery from an eating disorder; therefore, it is important to recognize the symptoms as a part of relapse prevention.
Keeping Recovery a Priority
Self-care is a key component of maintaining recovery for the long-term; this is especially true for recovered clinicians returning to the eating disorder community. Day-to-day stressors involved with the job should be handled appropriately in order to maintain a healthy balance between work, wellness, and recovery.
Establishing healthy client-clinician boundaries, making time for consistent rest and decompression, and staying connected to support can all be effective tools for the recovered clinician working in the eating disorder community.
About the Author: As the Eating Disorder Program Coordinator, Amy facilitates supervision for Eating Disorder Specialists, offers support through training to TK staff, and provides education on eating disorders to the community.
Amy started at Timberline Knolls as a Behavioral Health Specialist. As such, she provided support at the milieu level for all residents. She transitioned to Eating Disorder Specialist in 2012, supporting healing in present moment experiences for residents who struggled with eating disorders and body image. Amy earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from the University of Illinois. She was awarded a Master’s Degree in Counseling specializing in both community and school counseling from Lewis University.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on February 16, 2017
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
Baxter Ekern is the President of Eating Disorder Hope. He is responsible for the management and operations of Eating Disorder Hope. Baxter has been lending his services to Eating Disorder Hope for several years but came on board as the full-time president in November 2016.
