Page 44 - March 2021 Voices

FIELD NOTES

A caring heart needs to be carefully maintained to avoid falling prey to the ravages of life.

example, a hospital emergency room with its communication skill-building can improve

physicians and nurses. They are dealing with this. Carl Rogers (1961) developed the person-
life and death issues and don’t want to make a centered approach. He educated his students
mistake while maintaining to acquire the technique
compassion and kindness. of unconditional positive

They may have scores regard (UPG). This is a
of patients to serve. The cluster of micro-skills
environment can be hectic that a person can use
and unpredictable. Patients to help someone know

may be dying or at risk for that they are being
death. Some workers may understood, confirmed,
have back-to-back shifts. and in-relationship with
The stress on these people whom they are talking

is severe. They may be with.
exposed to this hour after Studies have revealed
hour, day after day. This is that the Relationship
a scenario for development between a giver and

of compassion-fatigue or receiver is the principal
Secondary Trauma Stress curative factor, and it
(STS). In such a workplace, is not the theoretical
it is challenging to maintain orientation or technique

a sufficient functional-reserve. Constant of a skilled, or trained, listener. Consider this,
exposure to trauma and continuous, often professional therapy was not commonly available
irresolvable problems fosters discouragement until the 20th century and societies managed
followed by desensitization and a breakdown in to get along without them. It is everyday people

compassion. Burnout is an end-stage condition helping people every day that will always make
in this process, when the caregiver experiences the most difference. The UPG dynamic can
not only mental and physical exhaustion, but transpire between any two individuals, creating
hopelessness and is unable to continue the work. a caring relationship.

Many of us strive to make a meaningful A caring relationship is intertwined with
connection with distressed people. Such compassion through the resources of the human
a connection depends largely on effective heart. Someone might say, “He has a hardness
communication skills. Fortunately, simple, guided of heart,” or “She poured out her heart to me.”

44 ONE COMMUNITY