Burnout is a syndrome which occurs due to prolonged emotional strain of dealing extensively with other human beings, particularly in helper and recipient relationships. Burnout is categorised as a type of stress. Unlike normal workplace stress which predominately affects individuals physically, burnout affects individuals emotionally. The term burnout was introduced in the 1970’s, and although […]

Workplace Issues
Negotiation Skills Training in Counselling
Negotiation is defined by the Macquarie Dictionary (1998) as ‘to confer (with another) with a view to agreement’. There are no formal rules governing how these negotiations are to be conducted, although there are culturally accepted styles or approaches for doing so. What negotiation and conflict have in common? The obvious common denominator in negotiation […]
- June 16, 2009
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- Counselling Theory & Process, Personal Effectiveness, Workplace Issues
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Rebuilding Self-Esteem After a Job Loss
“When I can no longer proudly say ‘I am a mechanic’ my self-esteem gradually wastes away. I meet a stranger and admit that I am unemployed, perhaps have been for an extended period of time and I feel that my stature diminishes from the look in their eyes. I talk about what I used to […]
- February 26, 2008
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- Career Development, Stress Management, Workplace Issues
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Sudden Unemployment: Personality Need Type Profile
This exercise explores further the type of person you are and your personality needs. Simply select either the left or right option, depending of which statement most reflects you, and follow the instructions below. Part A: Completing the Profile Do you consider yourself as being…? More Dominant ( ) More Passive ( ) More Gets […]
- February 25, 2008
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- Career Development, Counselling Theory & Process, Stress Management, Workplace Issues
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Sudden Unemployment: Reactions and Emotions
Every situation we encounter evokes a reaction and emotions. This usually only becomes a problem when the reactions and emotions we experience are unpleasant. In this post you will be focusing on your experience of being suddenly unemployed by addressing the following four points: Acknowledge that you are experiencing strong and sometimes unpleasant reactions and […]
- February 22, 2008
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- Career Development, Stress Management, Workplace Issues
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Series: Coping with Sudden Unemployment
Unfortunately ‘organisational restructuring’ and ‘downsizing’ are common events in today’s workplace. For those individuals who suddenly lose their job, financial pressures can be overwhelming. Most support individuals receive focus on supporting the individual financially. However even under the best conditions where someone has ample savings and decent job prospects, suddenly losing a job is an […]
- February 21, 2008
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- Career Development, Personal Effectiveness, Stress Management, Workplace Issues
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Workplace Harassment: Tanya’s Case Study
Tanya is an 18 year old girl who works part time in a shoe store to pay her way through university. The manager is Brad a 29 year old, fit looking man who is a real go-getter can-do sort of personality. Tanya is by contrast quite shy and very well mannered. Tanya asked Brad one […]
- October 26, 2007
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- Workplace Issues
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Workplace Harassment: Jack’s Case Study
Jack is a 59 year old single male who is a manager in a busy retail firm. Jack feels that life has passed him by a bit. He is regarded as a good manager but he has no ambitions at his stage of life to advance any more. He has worked for the firm for […]
- October 23, 2007
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- Workplace Issues
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Workplace Bullying: Effective Resposes
Here are some recommendations to effectively deal with workplace bullying or harassment. In the next post, we’ll explore a case study example of preferred options. Learn about people and their personalities — so that you don’t become a serial victim of another person’s bullying or harassing behaviour. Refer back to the work of Brinkman & […]
- October 19, 2007
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- Workplace Issues
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Workplace Harassment: Leanne’s Case Study
The following case study is based loosely around a real story but the people and the circumstances are fictional. Leanne is a 48 year old woman who is one of two product managers in a major computer parts facility. Leanne has excellent qualifications and experience as a manager in the computer sales industry. However she […]
- October 12, 2007
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- Workplace Issues
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Workplace Bullying: Ineffective Responses
Defining ineffective options is really difficult because there is not a lot of research evidence to guide people about what are effective and ineffective responses to workplace harassment and bullying in context (Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, 2000: 35). Obviously becoming mentally ill and suicidal should be considered as ineffective responses and a […]
- October 9, 2007
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- Workplace Issues
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Bullying and Your Health
According to Field ([2002-2004, Web site (accessed 21/08/06): www.bullyonline.org/workbully/amibeing.htm): ‘Bullying causes injury to health and makes you ill. How many of these symptoms do you have? Constant high levels of stress and anxiety Frequent illness such as viral infections especially flu and glandular fever, colds, coughs, chest, ear, nose and throat infections (stress plays havoc with […]
- September 28, 2007
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- Workplace Issues
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Bullying Behaviours
Let’s identify some key elements of a bully in the following list, adapted from Witheridge’s (2001: 4) outline of open versus hidden bullying. Open Bullying Behaviours Physical violence Shouting or swearing at someone in public or private Instant rages over trivial matter Humiliating someone in front of colleagues Ignoring or isolating someone in public deliberately […]
- September 27, 2007
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- Workplace Issues
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Why Do People Harass and Bully?
Brinkman and Kirshner (2003: 7) argue that depending upon goals and intentions of people in an organisation for example certain personality characteristics and behaviours emerge depending upon what a task may entail. They claim that there are 4 intentions that people use in their lives in order to function in undertaking tasks. They include: Get […]
- September 24, 2007
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- Workplace Issues
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What is Bullying Then?
Source: www.bullyonline.org/workbully/amibeing.htm “Constant nit-picking, fault-finding and criticism of a trivial nature – the triviality, regularity and frequency betray bullying; often there is a grain of truth (but only a grain) in the criticism to fool you into believing the criticism has validity, which it does not; often, the criticism is based on distortion, misrepresentation or fabrication. […]
- September 20, 2007
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- Workplace Issues
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