1
care for the caregiver
module
Six month distance learning toward self-care for caregivers
facilitators
Mrs Patricia Oosthuizen
context
Is a caregiver born or made? Whether you feel you were genetically
programmed into an inclination to care for others, or were moulded into one
by dynamics in your environment, a common theme shared amongst many
caregivers is the tendency to place the needs of others before their own.
Often this need to be needed can be so compelling and so instinctual, that
the caregiver loses sight or appreciation of what truly underlies the gratifying
and fulfilling sense derived from his or her work. That is, until one begins to
feel eroded, depleted, resentful and used up. Then, despite one’s resolve to
do it differently, one finds that one’s best intentions to change the selfdefeating patterns that undermine one’s care of self, are either too difficult to
change, or change for a short while before settling back into the old way.
The philosophy of this short course is that the factors that motivate your
desire to facilitate the healing and growth of another human being are
influenced both by the thoughts, feelings and beliefs you are conscious of, as
by those of which you are unaware. The same is true of your capacity to act in
self-enhancing and constructive ways in the care of your self. This course is
designed to encourage your self-reflections, so as to increase your
appreciation of the dynamics that support and inhibit your ability to care for
yourself. To facilitate this process relevant theory will be used to complement
the self-reflection on your thoughts, feelings and actions as a caregiver. In this
manner, the short course foregrounds how formal theoretical knowledge
needs to be complemented by personal self knowledge, to enable a process
of growth and change. These self-reflections may compliment those you have
already acquired through other self-caring practices like supervision, peer
support or your personal therapy. Alternatively, if you are a caregiver without
access to any of the traditional supports, this short course may provide you
with an inroad through which to contemplate what internal and external
structures you require to sustain you in your work.
“I have spent most of my life taking care of everyone else. Now I really
feel the need to spend as much time learning how to recognize and
take care of my own needs, desires and dreams.”
(Lauterbach & Becker, 1996, p. 58)
objectives of the short course
This course aims to:
> Enhance caregivers’ awareness of those factors that underlie the
motivation to care for others.
> Increase caregivers’ understanding as to the dynamics that support
and undermine self-caring activity.
> Broaden caregivers’ appreciation of the dimensions that impact on
2
self-caring behaviour.
> Encourage caregivers’ to experiment with changing existing selfdefeating
patterns and acquiring or strengthening more constructive ways of being.
who will benefit from this course?
This short course is designed for anyone who finds him or herself involved
in caring for another, whether in a professional capacity (e.g. nurse, doctor,
social worker, psychologist, counsellor, teacher or minister), volunteer
capacity (lay counsellor, peer counsellor, community or volunteer worker,
religious worker or as a member of a congregation) or personal capacity
(parent, family member or neighbour).
admission and other requirements
There are no prerequisites for this short course. Participants should however
be proficient in the following:
> ability to learn from predominantly written material
> ability to present and communicate information and opinions in wellstructured arguments without support
> taking responsibility for their own progress, and
> a willingness to take part in experiential learning of a professional nature.
curriculum
There is no prescribed book for the short course. The study guide is designed
as a workbook and includes knowledge of self-caring practices in general and
facilitates a process of self-reflection across the following areas:
Section A: The Philosophy of Self-Care
1. Why Self-Care?
1.1 Why Self-Care
1.2 Self and Other care
1.3 The Perils of Caregiving
1.4 Silencing of Self-Care
2. Perspectives on Self-Care
2.1 Personal Definition of Self-Care
2.2 Our View of the World
2.3 Epistemology, World View and Self-Care
2.4 Meaning and Action
2.5 Different perspectives on Self-Care
2.5.1 Medicine
2.5.2 Nursing
2.5.3 Psychology
2.5.4 Health Education
2.5.5 Sociology
2.5.6 Public Health
2.6 Epistemological Frameworks
2.7 The Epistemological Stance of this course
2.8 Defining Self-Care
3
3. Self-Reflection
3.1 A Self-Reflective approach to Care for the Caregiver
3.2 Possible Benefits of a Self-reflective stance
3.3 Putting Theory into Practice
3.4 Awakening the Healer within
4. Motivations and Obstacles
4.1 Exploring obstacles to Self-Care
10 2008 short courses and workshops
4.2 Tracing the Origins
4.3 What will sustain you?
Section B: Self-Care Dynamics
5. Nourishing the Physical Self
5.1 Emotion and Food
5.2 The Mind-Body Link
5.3 Exercise
6. Integrating the Thinking Self
6.1 Listening to the Voices of Others
6.2 The Inner Voice
6.3 The Voice of Reason
6.4 Integrating the Voices
7. Nurturing the Emotional Self
7.1 The positive feelings evoked through caregiving
7.2 The negative feelings evoked through caregiving
7.3 From disillusionment to realistic strength
7.4 Exploring the Shadow
7.5 The Vulnerable Self
7.5.1 Safety Needs
7.5.2 Trust
7.5.3 Esteem Needs
7.5.4 Intimacy
7.5.5 Control
8. Protecting the Professional Self
8.1 Definition of Compassion Fatigue
8.2 Related terms
8.3 Who is at risk for Compassion Fatigue?
8.4 Signs and Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue
8.4.1 Intrusive Symptoms
8.4.2 Avoidance Symptoms
8.4.3 Arousal Symptoms
8.5 Recommendations for the Treatment and Prevention of Compassion
Fatigue
8.5.1 Identity
8.5.2 Intentionality and Awareness
8.5.3 Connection
8.5.4 Self soothing
4
8.5.5 Narrative
8.5.6 Developing a compassionate inner voice
8.5.7 The Professional Peer Group
9. Sustaining the Spiritual Self
9.1 Defining Spirituality
9.2 Self-Care and the Soul
9.3 Living Contemplatively
9.4 Gaining self-knowledge
evaluation and examination
Learners will have to complete assignments for submission and compile a
portfolio to demonstrate their ability to incorporate the prescribed material.
registration and closing dates
This is a six months course offered twice a year. Participants may decide
whether they want to do the course in the first semester, which is from
January until June, or in the second semester, which runs from July until
December.
Closing date for registration is 28 February for the first semester and 31 July
for the second semester. Note in this regard that the earlier you register the
more time you will have available for exploring the course material.
accreditation
Successful candidates will be awarded with a Unisa Certificate in Care for the
Caregiver. The certificate testifies to the fact that the certificate holder has
undergone a self-reflective process into those dynamics that influence the
care of self and others.
CPD points accredited for 2008:
SACSSP 30 points accredited
HPCSA applying for 24 points including 6 ethical points
fees
Fees are payable in full on registration for the course. The course fee per
person is R3 500.
METHODS OF PAYMENT
NOTE:
Please fax the details of your payment (e.g. a copy of your deposit slip) with a
completed registration form to: The Centre Manager on fax number (012) 4296853. Your registration cannot be processed without proof of payment.
Payment can be made as follows:
Cash
Cheque
Credit card
Deposit into Unisa bank account
Electronic transfer
Postal order
5
CASH:
Payment to be made to the cashiers at the Cas van Vuuren building, Unisa Mucklneuk Campus and proof
of payment together with completed registration form to: The Centre Manager, the Centre for Applied
Psychology, Unisa Muckleneuk Campus, Theo van Wijk Building, 5th Floor Room 5-152 – Telephone
012-429-8544/8303
CHEQUE OR POSTAL ORDER:
Cheques or postal orders should be made out to: University of South Africa. Hand in or post together with
completed registration form to the Unisa Centre for Applied Psychology (for attention: The Centre
Manager), Unisa Muckleneuk Campus, PO Box 392, Unisa, 0003
CREDIT CARD:
Credit cards are restricted to "Visa" and "Mastercard". Fax credit card details to: The Centre Manager on
fax number 012-429-6853 with the following details:
Name of card holder
Name of card
Card number in full
CV number (last 3 digits on back of card)
Expiry date
Amount due
Terms (straight/budget). If budget, specify the period in months.
The information must be accompanied by a completed registration form.
DEPOSIT:
Cash/cheque/postal order payments can be deposited into the University bank account:
ABSA, Sunnyside Branch, Pretoria
Account number 010 000 114 / branch code 323745.
Kindly specify the allocation number 306600/11665 in the reference block on the bank deposit slip
(right hand side at bottom of slip).
Please fax details of deposit slip as well as completed registration form to: The Centre Manager on fax
number (012) 429-6853
ELECTRONIC TRANSFER:
Fax/post proof of payment together with completed registration form to Unisa Centre for Applied
Psychology (for attention: The Centre Manager), Unisa Muckleneuk Campus, PO Box 392, Unisa, 0003 Fax number 012-429-6853
ACCOMMODATION AND TRAVEL
Accommodation and travel expenses are for the account of the participant. Participants should arrange
their own accommodation and transport. A list of guesthouses and hotels is available from the Centre on
request.
6
UNISA CENTRE FOR APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
Allocation number 306600/11665
REGISTRATION FORM 2008
(Care for the Caregiver)
•
Complete the registration form and fax with proof of payment to: The Centre Manager, (012) 429-6853
A. Please indicate which semester you are registering for:
SEMESTER 1
SEMESTER 2
B. Please fill in you personal and contact details:
Title
First Name/s
Surname
Postal Address:
Code:
Tel (w)
Code: (
)
Tel (h)
Code: (
)
Fax
Code: (
)
E-Mail
Cell
Employer
Occupation
(If registered with the
HPCSA or SACSSP.
Please provide your
professional number)
C. Payment details:
Fee payable (tick)
Full
Amount due
R
Group
Postage (Foreign Countries) R350
Method of payment
(specify)
Credit card details (only if you pay per credit card)
Name of cardholder:
Name of Card:
Card number:
CV number:
Expiry date:
Straight
Budget
E. Certificate details (Please write in block letters):
Surname to be printed on certificate:
Name/s to be printed on certificate:
Did you include a copy of your ID with your
registration?
Signature: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ……………………………………………………………Date:……………………………………………..
7
please note:
> Payment may be made by cash; electronic transfer; cheque; postal order; credit card; or
bank deposit.
> Cheques and postal orders made payable to Unisa.
> Credit Card payments are restricted to “Visa” and “Mastercard”. Fax credit card details to
the Centre Manager on fax number +27(0)12 429-6853. The information must be
accompanied by a completed registration form.
> Cash/cheque/postal order payments to be deposited into the Unisa bank account - ABSA
Sunnyside Branch Pretoria Account # 010 000 114 / branch code 323745.
> Kindly specify the allocation number 3066X/11665 in the reference block on the bank
deposit slip (right hand side at bottom of slip).
> Remember to specify the name of the short course/workshop(s) on all deposit slips.
> Fax details of your payment (e.g. a copy of your deposit slip) with a completed registration
form to: The Centre Manager on fax number +27(0)12 429-6853.
> Registration forms without payment will not be accepted.
> Ensure you pay the correct amount. Over-payments will not be refunded.
> An administrative fee of R350 is payable for any alterations to bookings.
> Students from foreign countries have to pay an additional R350 for courier postage. Please
provide us with a physical address.
> Should you wish to cancel, a 50% refund of the registration fee shall be made on receipt of
a written application to this effect, however, no cancellations will be accepted 10 working days
or less before the commencement of the course/workshop.
> The Centre reserves the right to cancel or reschedule a workshop up to 7 working days in
advance in the event of insufficient enrolment. In this case, the participant will be refunded in
full. Kindly confirm with the Centre before you make final payments for travel or
accommodation.
> Accommodation and travel arrangements are participants’ own responsibility and for their
own account.
> No student rates are on offer.
> Where applicable, workshop fees include refreshments, lunch and course material.
> Lunch served during workshops comprises of the “meal of the day” on the Unisa restaurant
menu for the day. Limited provision can be made for vegetarian meals. (We are unfortunately
unable to provide for any special
dietary requirements.) (Additional dietary options are available from the cafeteria at your own
cost.)
> Workshops will be conducted in English only.
> Workshops commence at advertised times (for registration, please arrive 30 minutes
earlier).
> We are an accredited service provider and the majority of courses and
workshop are accredited for CPD points with the HPCSA and the SACSSP. Please note,
however, full attendance is a prerequisite for healthcare professionals who wish to be
awarded CPD points, and it is their responsibility to ensure the Centre receives their
professional registration number.
> Due to the practical, experiential nature of the workshops, only a limited
number of learners (i.e. 14 – 25) can be accommodated per workshop on a first come, first
served basis.
PLEASE DIRECT ALL ENQUIRIES TO:
Unisa Centre for Applied Psychology
The Centre Manager
Tel : 012-429-8544/3794 (office hours)
Fax : 012-429-6853
e-mail : ucap@unisa.ac.za
Unisa Muckleneuk Campus
Theo van Wijk Building
5th Floor Room 5-152