A Case Study of the Well-Being of Clinicians Who Counsel Family Suicide Survivors

Abstract

Counseling suicide survivors can result in occupational hazards for clinicians involved with this population. This dissertation aimed to investigate how clinicians who work with familial survivors of suicide experience well-being outside of the treatment room. The purpose of this study was to investigate how these particular clinicians experience and practice well-being in their own time, outside of the treatment context. The research question sought to answer was how clinicians who counsel familial suicide survivors experience well-being. The case study focused on psychologists, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, and clinical social workers. The methodology applied in this study was qualitative case study. The study was conducted amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, thus prohibiting the interview process from being conducted in the clinicians' natural setting. The researcher modified the design to allow video interviews. The sample consisted of nine clinicians who met the inclusion criteria participated in the exploration process. The results of this study were the emergence of patterns in the within-case analysis of the data collected constituted efforts for well-being. Inductive reasoning discussed in the clinicians’ responses described their understanding of well-being related to self-efficacy and prevention of work-related vicarious exposures. The cross-case analysis provided five major themes: (a) competence in the clinician role, (b) developing protective factors and strategies to avoid secondary trauma, (c) grounded in a spiritual foundation, (d) using peer support, and (e) intentional self-care. The themes concluded findings consistent with the PERMA well-being theory and that the practice for well-being impacts how clinicians provide effective treatment, balance work and home life, and maintain career longevity.