Articles

Social Care workers better able to deal with trauma, with the help of yoga and meditation

17/10/2017

According to primary therapist Molly Rose Zametkin, there are many social care professionals who rely on yoga and meditation to cope with the demands of the job. Care work requires resilience and selflessness, and taking part in these disciplines gives them a chance to take time for themselves, which in turn, helps them better care for others.

This is a view which is widely shared through the care industry. London based yoga teacher, Kat Achtelik says that for her, the discipline of yoga and meditation comes right down to self-love. Before you take care of others, you must first take care of yourself. You simply cannot pour from an empty cup.

This seems to be a worldwide opinion. Anke Lenz, who is a social care worker with teenage refugees in Berlin says that yoga and meditation have made her enjoy her job a lot more. The disciplines have taught her to have - and keep - a positive mindset, and have helped to get her through many emotionally draining situations. Yoga allows one to distance oneself from emotions. Additionally, you will learn to recognise your own limits, and know how to take care of yourself.

Simply because there are so many people who require care, social workers are often over-worked, underpaid, and exposed to heart-breaking stories. They are at great risk of burnout and secondary trauma.

STS (Secondary Traumatic Stress) is another form of post-traumatic stress disorder, which has now been linked to burnouts. Meditation, and mindfulness is one way to ‘heal the healer’. Setting aside time to meditate is essential for anyone working in positions where the cumulative effects of stress will inevitably lead to physical illness and psychological issues. 

The advantages of mindfulness and meditation are that neither of these are time-consuming or expensive. Both can be carried out in a bedroom with enough space to lie down in. You do not need any extra equipment, and you can practise them at any time which is convenient. The disciplines are holistic, and will also be of help in private lives. Carers will learn not to bring their work home with them. The opposite also applies in that they will learn how to keep home issues at home.

Ms Zametkin agrees that for her, yoga and meditation are an essential part of her well-being, particularly in the social care sector. There are many yoga and meditation studios which have sprung up recently, as well as videos and books, which make it even easier to do on your own. 

Brynne Caleda of Yoga-Ed, which is US based, says that our emotions can work against carers, or for them. They can prevent or support care work. She believes that the way professionals arrive at work affects their relationships with clients. The disciplines of yoga and meditation give carers the ability to become fully aware of their clients.

One of the benefits of yoga and meditation is that it will help with issues that come up at work. These events are less likely to disturb a calm state of mind, and the carer will be able to distance themselves from a crisis and react appropriately. People will see that the carer is balanced. Being balanced is one of the biggest benefits of meditation.

A survey taken by social care professionals showed that 90% of them agreed yoga and meditation should become an integral part of the course for social care workers. With the importance of mental health becoming more relevant in every-day life, it is important that the social care sector leads the way in this field.