There have been several studies that reveal raised levels of stress in integrated behavioral health practitioners who treat clients and their traumatic life events. This often takes a toll on the professional. It is very important that the practitioners take care of themselves to ensure that they are able to provide evidence-based interventions to clients. It is often seen that these professionals tend to focus all of their energy in trying to find goals to ensure the client is able to progress in society. It is often easy for practitioner to continue getting caught in this state of mind without reflecting on themselves. This article focuses on the integrated health practitioner, and their ability to take care of themselves, and not become overworked mentally and physically. This article displays several methods used to maintain a healthy well-being.

The Maslach Burnout Inventory assesses three symptom areas that are discussed within this literature. This tool assesses the areas of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization of clients, and lack of feelings of personal accomplishment (Savicki & Cooley, 1982). Research methods showed that in 1998, 8.116,000 people ages 12 and older in the U.S. were victims of a violent crime, and 333,000 of those were victims of sexual assault or rape (Rennison, 1999). Approximately 984,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect in 1997 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999). A study of 250 providers found that 42% of the clients in their caseload reported a history of sexual abuse (Follette, Polusny & Milbeck, 1994). Working with individuals with the above problems generally causes an essential amount of stress in the integrated behavioral health practitioner. This literature reveals the majority of practitioners focused on social, emotional, thinking, physical, spiritual, and vocational well-being.

The results in this study reflect how practitioners get physically and emotionally drained when dealing with the taxing concerns of their clients. The study further demonstrated how providers can find several relaxing mechanisms to aid them in a healthy well-being. The healthy mechanisms such as, exercise, therapeutic sessions, enjoying fun activities, taking time off, and never forgetting about themselves. Furthermore, this study resulted in therapist having a more admirable well-being if they focused on maintaining positive self-care practices.

                           References

Follette, V.M., Polusny, M.M. & Milbeck, K. (1994). Mental health and law enforcement professionals; Trauma history, psychological symptoms, and impact of providing services to child sexual abuse survivors. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice , 24, 275-282.

Rennison, C.M. (1999). Criminal victimization 1998 (Rev. 8/25/99). Retrieved January 3, 2000 from the World Wide Web http:www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/cv98.pdf

Savicki. V; & Cooley, E.J. (1982). Implications for burnout research and theory for counselor educators. Personnel and Guidance Journal, 60, 415-419.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families. (1999). Child maltreatment 1997: Reports from the States to the Natio-nal Child Abuse and Neglect Data System. Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing.