How should a counselor address personal impairment or burnout?

• A. Seek supervision or personal therapy, practice self-care, and refer for care if impairment may affect client welfare.
• B. Ignore impairment
• C. Continue working
• D. Move to admin role

Answer: (A)

Managing personal impairment or burnout involves putting clients first by actively addressing the issue through professional support and self-care. The best approach is to seek supervision or personal therapy to gain insight, reduce bias, and keep practice safe and effective. Engaging in self-care practices helps prevent burnout and maintains overall well-being, which supports sustained, competent counseling. If the impairment may affect client welfare, referring for care ensures clients receive appropriate help and reduces risk to their welfare.

Ignoring impairment, continuing to work while impaired, or simply moving to an admin role without addressing the underlying issue do not protect clients or uphold professional standards.