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Is Counselling a Health Hazard to Counsellors? Occupational Stress and Occupational Health for Counsellors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

Darien Chinnery
Affiliation:
The University of Sydney
Angela Campbell
Affiliation:
The University of Sydney
Sara Churches
Affiliation:
The University of Sydney
Doris Houston
Affiliation:
The University of Sydney
Tania King
Affiliation:
The University of Sydney
Gael Prophet
Affiliation:
The University of Sydney
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Abstract

A questionnaire survey of 85 counsellors investigated potential contributors to stress in the workplace and valued coping strategies. The sample consisted of three groups: a Government group, a Private group and a Religious group, which represented three different types of work organisation. Recent research suggests that organisational factors contribute to occupational stress, and that personal coping strategies may not alleviate stress appreciably. The results of the study indicated that the most stressed group was the Government group of counsellors, that the most highly rated contributor to stress was management attitudes and that the most valued coping strategies were organisational in nature rather than personal.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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