%0 Journal Article
%T The Power of Being There for Each Other: The Importance of Self
%A Karen Parsonson
%A Luz Alquicira
%J International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology
%@ 1552-6933
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/0306624X19841773
%X This was an exploratory study which hypothesized that there would be significant individual differences in feelings, perceptions, experiences, self-care strategies, and barriers to practicing self-care between sex offender treatment professionals. Nine sex offender treatment providers, all female, received structured interviews. Experience with the population varied from 3 to 15 years. Qualitative data were evaluated for themes in perceived context and nature of their work. The focus was upon conceptualization of self-care and implications, both professionally and personally. Three areas of self-care strategies emerged: personal, professional, and organizational. Perspectives differed with years of experience, with differential impacts on each area. Barriers were found to practicing self-care at all levels. To maintain well-functioning, it is suggested that there is an individual goodness of fit. Connection to others, however, appears to be extremely important, as does work¨Clife balance. Recommendations include practicing regular self-care, as well as education about self-awareness and self-care during training
%K stress
%K burnout
%K competence
%K professional ethics
%K self-care
%K sex offenders
%K treatment providers
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0306624X19841773