Stress and burnout for helping professionals. Counselors navigating the COVID pandemic

Abstract

Helping professionals are givers by vocation, and this generous trait is abundantly displayed by their commitment and determination to support others. Caring for others is their central business, which many times, in the absence of a solid training and various types of professional support, might affect their capacity to regroup and heal. This article addresses the most common sources of stress and burnout for helping professionals, with a special focus on counselors. Concepts like compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress are explored. The current pandemic is adding to those common stressors, making us consider the helping services from a different perspective. COVID Stress Syndrome is presented and potential implications for caregivers’ work are discussed. Special consideration is given to the counseling occupation in Romania.