Exploring self-care tools for Christian social workers to prevent burnout

Christian social workers have a dual role providing social services with compassion, love, and a higher calling. However, due to these dual roles, many have endured burnout at some level in their careers. The consequences of burnout can be harmful to workers, the people whom they service, their families and their careers. The goal in exploring this topic is to assist helpers, social workers and leaders in ministries with identifying the stressors that lead to burnout and with formulating plans to alleviate stress by using self-care tools. They will use these tools to help prevent future stressors from involvement in ministry, family or employment. This article reviews literature that explores the impact of burnout on helping professionals, Christian social workers and clergy and provides self-care tools to utilize in preventing burnout.