Sustaining empathy: Preventing burnout

This is a 1 day course in Bristol (you come to us).

Also available for teams in-house (we come to you).

If for any reason the course cannot be delivered face-to-face, we will take a flexible and responsive approach to keep people learning by delivering the training on the same day as a live interactive online session or transferring bookings to the next available dates.

Course overview

Designed specifically for supporters keen to explore their own responses and deepen empathy, this reflective day provides participants with a safe space to explore how and why they feel challenged by certain clients.

Aimed at strengthening the support relationship in challenging circumstances, the course considers what happens when change is hard, and how to remain hopeful and helpful for clients with complex needs.

Course aims

To develop participants understanding of what might be going on when clients present in ways they find challenging, especially in relation to change, to deepen and sustain their empathy with those clients

To provide a safe space to reflect upon participants own responses and reactions to ensure the best outcomes possible for complex clients, whilst retaining a strong sense of satisfaction for supporters

Course objectives

By the end of the course participants will have had opportunities to:

• Explore what is going on when clients challenge out empathy, and what our expectations are around helping and change
• Reflect on world views about change and how our own experiences interact with the people we support
• Consider the importance of remaining hopeful and realistic with clients
• Identify the different levels of empathetic responding and recognise the thoughts, feelings and actions of advanced empathy
• Consider the factors that can impact on empathy in order to assess the emotional demands and benefits for supporters
• Explore the skills and qualities necessary to remain compassionate and avoid burnout