Working with Victims of Crime: The Basics

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Information Sheet: The Basics of Self-Care

Developed from Hill, J.K. (2004). Working with Victims of Crime: A Manual Applying Research to Clinical Practice, Ottawa ON: Justice Canada.

• Self-care is key to better service delivery.
  
  
• Workers need to take care of themselves first, if they are to effectively help their clients.
  
  
• Workers can be models of good self-care.
  
  
• Workers can choose to apply effective coping strategies (dealing directly with the problem) rather than poor coping strategies (avoidance, ignoring, "working through the stress").
  
  
• Self-care behaviours can include:
  
  
  • Self-Assessment- watch for signs of stress and strength (Grosch & Olsen, 1994; Kottler, 1999).
    
    
  • Use of effective supervision from superiors and peer support from coworkers (Grosch & Olsen, 1994; Kottler, 1999).
    
    
  • Setting boundaries, both in your work and home life (Grosch & Olsen, 1994).
    
    
  • Building a balanced life (Grosch & Olsen, 1994).
    
    
  • Using support groups, therapy, outpatient treatment, etc. (Grosch & Olsen, 1994).
    
    
  • Education and professional development.
    
    
• Spend time reading on self-care and try some of the activities suggested.
  
  

The following web resources may be useful:

Web Resources:

• Richardson, J. I. (2001). Guidebook on vicarious trauma: Recommended solutions for anti-violence workers. Ottawa, ON: Health Canada.
• The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies: www.istss.org
• Hope Morrow's Trauma Central: Several articles on vicarious traumatization and burnout:
  http://home.earthlink.net/~hopefull/
• Dr. Laurie Anne Perlman has a selected bibliography on the web at:
  www.isu.edu/~bhstamm/ts/vt.htm
• National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder:
  www.ncptsd.org
• National Family Violence Clearinghouse, Health Canada:
  www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hppb/familyviolence

Other Information Sheets in this Series:

• The Basics of Victimization
• The Basics of Victim Reactions and Coping
• The Basics about Deciding to Refer to Mental Health Professionals
• The Basics about the Stages of Change
• The Basics to Cover in an Initial Interview

References:

• Brown, C. & O'Brien, K. M. (1998). Understanding stress and burnout in shelter workers. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 29 (4), 1998, 383-385.
• Grosch, W. N. & Olsen, D. C. (1994). When helping starts to hurt: A new look at burnout among psychotherapists. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
• Kottler, J. A. (1999). The therapist's workbook: Self-assessment, self-care, and self improvement exercises for mental health professionals. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

August 2004

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