The Resilience Residency: A New Model for Counselor Well-being
Dr. Ab E. Dougherty, a passionate advocate for social justice and a seasoned licensed counselor and counselor educator, stepped into the bustling hall of the mountain retreat that would serve as the venue for her week-long live residency program. This residency, specifically designed for counseling professionals, culminated inher years of research and practice, centered around her Model and approach to teaching and learning — a revolutionary approach to combating compassion fatigue and promoting counselor well-being.
As the attendees began to settle in, the air was filled with a palpable sense of anticipation and curiosity. Dr. D greeted each participant with a warm smile, knowing that the days ahead would be transformative. The group consisted of a diverse mix of counselors, each at different stages of their careers but all united by a common desire to learn how to sustain their passion and commitment to helping others without sacrificing their well-being.
The first session began with Ab leading a discussion on the importance of mindfulness in counseling practice. “As counselors, recognizing the early signs of fatigue is crucial,” she explained. “Mindfulness is not just a practice but a way of being that allows us to stay connected with our true authentic selves.” She reminded her students that these mindfulness activities were invitations and each student should engage with what feels good and authentic to their realist self– we would take a collective commitment to each other and the field of counseling by engaging in a high level of self and community care while we primed our bodies for deep learning and compassionate presence and advocacy work.
Ab guided the group through several mindfulness exercises, including meditation and mindful walking around the picturesque retreat grounds. These activities were designed not only to introduce the counselors to mindfulness techniques but also to help them establish a routine of self-awareness that would empower them to manage their emotional, psychological, and physical states proactively.
In the following days, Dr. D introduced more of her teaching and counseling approach, focusing on arts-based creative expression. The counselors in training were invited to engage in various artistic activities like mindful drawing and doodling, journal writing, and music workshops. “Art can be a refuge,” Dr. Ab remarked, “a place where you can shed the emotional residues of your therapeutic work and rejuvenate.”
The counselors found themselves delving into their creative sides, some discovering hidden talents and others reconnecting with long-forgotten passions. This session not only provided them with tools to manage emotional buildup but also highlighted the transformative power of creativity in fostering personal and professional growth. The group shared with each other about what brought them to counseling, demonstrating bravery and candor, allowing for deep and transformative learning and community to build.
The group continued their arts-based expression alongside their storytelling, exploring their intersectional identities and learning about multicultural and social justice competencies in counseling. Dr. Ab introduced and gave examples of how power, privilege, and oppression would impact their counseling clients but also the way counseling was conducted and unfolded. The group talked at length about the importance of joining professional counseling organizations in order to advocate for both their clients and the change the larger systems and policies that lead so many into counseling the office.
Midweek, the focus shifted to the role of technology in enhancing counselor resilience. Dr. Ab had already posted several video demonstrations and introduction videos to the online classroom to prepare her students for residency. She then demonstrated live during residency how online platforms and virtual communities could serve as vital resources for support and continuous learning. The group explored various apps and websites that offered forums, webinars, and virtual consultation groups, discussing how these tools could be integrated into their daily practices to build a supportive network of peers. They laughed and told stories– Abby, as an RCT counselor, could see the 5 things occurring in her group and knew they were headed in the right direction.
As the residency neared its end, Ab emphasized the importance of psychoeducation in sustaining a healthy counseling practice. Through interactive workshops, the counselors learned about setting boundaries, the significance of regular supervision, and strategies to engage effectively with support systems.
“Education is your shield,” Dr. D advised. “It equips you to recognize the signs of burnout and arms you with strategies to prevent it.”
In the final session, Abby spoke passionately about the necessity of fostering compassion not only towards clients but also towards oneself and one’s peers. The group shared their experiences and insights, practiced mindful self-compassion, and reinforced the idea that a supportive professional community is essential for maintaining emotional health.
As the residency concluded, the counselors felt revitalized and equipped with practical tools and insights. They had formed bonds that would extend beyond the confines of the retreat, creating a network of professionals committed to supporting each other.
Dr. D watched her students depart, knowing that each would carry forward the principles of wellness into their practices, promoting a culture of resilience, creativity, and sustained emotional well-being.
Dr. Abby’s story demonstrates that compassion, connection, and continuous learning can effectively manage and overcome the challenges of compassion fatigue and burnout. As Ab left the residency, she reminded herself to be kind and gentle with herself — there was still more exciting learning to come.
She softly said a self-compassion poem to herself, May I be kind to myself and may beings be free–she exhaled deeply and boarded her plane back home.
