Episode 38 - Affiliate Response to Stress and Burnout

NRCAC Team Talk

EPISODE SUMMARY:

“The ultimate solution to burnout is not self-care. It’s caring for others and others caring for you.”

There’s no denying that self-care is important. Eating healthy, exercising, and taking vacation days can reduce stress on the body. But it’s human connection and the relationships you have with others that make the difference.

In this month’s episode, Tony speaks with Dr. Heather Forkey and Dr. Jessica Griffin with UMass Chan Medical School about a different approach to address secondary traumatic stress and burnout. During their conversation, they share with us the affiliate response. They discuss the evolutionary foundation and strategies for organizations and individuals to reduce secondary traumatic stress and burnout.

Topics in this episode

• Burnout and secondary traumatic stress definitions (4:03)
• Secondary traumatic stress symptoms (11:30)
• Evolutionary response to stress (12:51)
• Impact of culture and society (19:14)
• Strategies to reduce stress and burnout (27:22)
• Recommendations for organizations and teams to recognize and take action (30:52)
• Technology (36:00)
• Caring for others, others caring for you (39:12)
• Resources (42:50)

GUESTS:

Heather C. Forkey, MD, is a Professor of Pediatrics and at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, and Director of the Foster Children Evaluation Service (FaCES) of the UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center. She also serves as the Medical Director of Lifeline4Kids at University of Massachusetts Medical School. She received her undergraduate degree from Cornell University and medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She completed her pediatric residency and chief residency at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Forkey has been the recipient of local and federal grants to address issues of children in foster care and to translate promising practices to address physical and mental health needs of children who have been traumatized. She has published and presents nationally and internationally on the topics, and serves in leadership roles for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the American Academy of Pediatrics on issues related to foster care, mental health and child trauma. She recently coauthored the book Childhood Trauma and Resilience: A Practical Guide, available from AAP Press.

Jessica Griffin, PsyD

Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Pediatrics; Executive Director, Lifeline For Kids; Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics; Executive Director, Lifeline For Kids; Executive Director, Resilience Through Relationships Center; Executive Director, Child Trauma Training Center

Dr. Griffin is a clinical and forensic psychologist with specialties in childhood trauma, resilience, and relationships. Dr. Griffin is a nationally recognized expert in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), trauma, resilience, and relationships. She developed the UMass Child Trauma Training Center (now known as Lifeline For Kids) which has trained over 100,000 professionals in trauma, trauma-informed care, and trauma sensitive practices. She is a highly sought-after public speaker and go-to expert for national media and is a regular contributor on news outlets. She is a co-author of a book by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Childhood Trauma and Resilience, A Practical Guide, a go-to resource on childhood trauma for pediatrics. Recently, Dr. Griffin also authored a book for couples, Relationship Rx: Prescriptions for Lasting Love and Deeper Connection.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

• Childhood Trauma and Resilience: A Practical Guide by Heather C. Forkey MD FAAP, Jessica L. Griffin PsyD and Moira Szilagyi MD PhD FAAP: https://www.amazon.com/Childhood-Trauma-Resilience-Practical-Guide/dp/1610025067
• Relationship Rx: Prescriptions for Lasting Love and Deeper Connection by Jessica Griffin and Pepper Schwartz: https://www.amazon.com/Relationship-Rx-Prescriptions-Lasting-Connection/dp/1538165732
• Lifeline for Kids: https://www.umassmed.edu/cttc/
• Caring for Caregivers Experiencing Secondary Trauma: A Call to Action: https://assets.libsyn.com/show/159677/STS_Clinical_Peds_2022.pdf
• Oxytocin has ‘tend-and-defend’ functionality in group conflict across social vertebrates: https://assets.libsyn.com/show/159677/tend_and_defend.pdf
• Physician Distress and Burnout: The Neurobiological Perspective: https://assets.libsyn.com/show/159677/neurobiol_burnout_shanafelt.pdf
• Physician Well-being 2.0: Where Are WE and Where Are We Going?: https://assets.libsyn.com/show/159677/wellbeing_2.0_shanafelt.pdf
• Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center: https://www.nrcac.org
• Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers: https://www.regionalcacs.org

Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [e-mail].

Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 15PJDP-22-GK-03061-JJVO awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.