SELF-CARE AND PSYCHODRAMA. PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF A GROUP EXPERIENCE WITH PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE

Resumen

THIS RESEARCH IS A RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FOR HELP FROM A GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE, IN ORDER TO COPE WITH THE EMOTIONAL EXHAUSTION EXPERIENCED AS A RESULT OF THEIR CONTACT WITH TRAUMATIC STORIES OF THE VICTIMS. PREVIOUS STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THE NEGATIVE IMPACT THAT INVOLVES SUCH LABOR ACTIVITY CAN GENERATE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE WELL-BEING OF THE SPECIALISTS WHO PERFORM THEM. THIS IS WHY WE HAVE PROPOSED AS A PRIMARY
OBJECTIVE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR BETTER COPING WITH THE SITUATION THEY ENCOUNTERED AT WORK. IN THIS STUDY, A GROUP WAS CREATED WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF 21 PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE. FIVE SESSIONS WERE CONDUCTED USING THE METHODOLOGY OF PSYCHODRAMA DUE TO THEIR RELEVANCE TO STIMULATE HUMAN POTENTIAL AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR SKILLS AND ABILITIES IN TERMS OF EXTENDING THE CONTROL AND MASTERY OVER THEMSELVES AND THEIR INNER WORLD. THE PARTIAL RESULTS SHOW THAT THE EMOTIONAL EXHAUSTION DECREASES WHEN THOSE EXPERIENCING IT HAVE A SPACE WHERE THEY CAN EXPRESS
AND SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AND REPRESSED FEELINGS, AND RELEASE STRONG EMOTIONAL BURDENS. FURTHERMORE, THE USE OF PSYCHODRAMA TECHNIQUES FAVORS THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-KNOWLEDGE AND FOSTERS THE EMERGENCE OF NEW SKILLS AND PERSONOLOGICAL RESOURCES. IT HELPS TO DISMANTLE MISCONCEPTIONS THEY HAVE ATTAINED THROUGH THEIR WORKING EXPERIENCE AND ALLOWS THE POSSIBILITY TO GAIN NEW TOOLS TO MANAGE THEIR OWN EMOTIONS.

KEY WORDS: SELF-CARE, PSYCHODRAMA, PROFESSIONALS, ATTENTION TO VICTIMS OF
SEXUAL ABUSE