Burnout and self-efficacy: Exploring the rewards and challenges faced by crisis counselors working in emergency department settings

Authors

Ellen DotasFollow

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

ORCID

http://orcid.org/0009-0001-7070-9731

Date of Graduation

5-15-2025

Semester of Graduation

Spring

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Department of Graduate Psychology

First Advisor

Stephanie Crockett

Second Advisor

Debbie Sturm

Third Advisor

Robin Anderson

Abstract

This dissertation explores burnout and self-efficacy in counselors who work with clients in crisis in emergency department settings. Mental health and emergency departments are two areas that tend to report higher levels of burnout than are reported in other occupational fields. While much research has been done on the topics of burnout and self-efficacy, limited information is available about counselors who work in these crisis roles. This dissertation follows a three-manuscript format and includes a conceptual, qualitative, and quantitative manuscript. The conceptual manuscript explores the nature of the crisis assessment itself, focusing on the area of risk assessment. The qualitative manuscript used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and focuses on the rewards and challenges faced by the counselors working in these positions. The quantitative manuscript concludes with a study that surveyed counselors about their levels of burnout and self-efficacy. Instruments used were the abbreviated Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) and the Counselors Crisis Self-Efficacy Scale (CCSES). Results of the manuscripts indicate that training and education is still needed in both graduate training and in employment settings. The qualitative study also noted significant challenges counselors face when providing needed help to clients. The quantitative study showed a negative correlation between counselor self-efficacy and burnout. Recommendations are to provide more education to graduate students about the nature of crisis work and the opportunities in this field. Counselors should all feel comfortable conducting a risk assessment on a client in crisis, no matter the setting. Finally, further study should be done to explore burnout in these positions and what can be done to mitigate those risks.