Thursday 5:30 - 7:30 Keynote Address

Vocational Renewal – Fire and Breathing Spaces

Amy McConkey Robbins, MS
Communication Consulting Services

How do professionals sustain the energy to do their rewarding yet often exhausting jobs? Persons in the serving professions, including audiologists, speech-language pathologists, teachers, and physicians, are widely acknowledged to expend tremendous emotional energy during their daily work. These professionals often report that, while they find gratification in their jobs, they also have difficulty “getting away” mentally from the workplace, finding the balance between work and home, and dealing with the conflict that often arises between colleagues and/or between professional and parent (Novak, 2003.) As noted educator Parker Palmer has written, “Those in professions where people give their heart must also be encouraged to find ways to take heart, so that their passion and energy for their profession is renewed” (1999). This presentation will provide acknowledgement and encouragement, along with practical suggestions to prevent burn-out and encourage work/life balance. Participants will be introduced to self-care techniques that address “compassion fatigue.” CEU:0.2