Occupational stress in mental health counselors

Abstract

A literature review of the topic of occupational stress and corresponding stress management techniques among mental health counselors was conducted. The investigation examined the amount of occupational stress experienced in 55 mental health counselors employed by both state and privately funded inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities in the state of Wisconsin. The data for this study was acquired by a convenience sample of mental health counselors employed by Winnebago Mental Health Institute, Ministry Behavioral Health, and Gunderson Lutheran Hospital. The study was conducted to determine the current level of occupational stress experienced by mental health counselors through the use of the Weiman Occupational Stress Scale (Weiman, 1978) as well as determining the three most common occupational stressors and stress reduction strategies identified by mental health counselors.