A short description is given of the development of the concept of burnout as a work-related stress reaction in persons engaged in 'people work' and in other occupations. Diagnostic methods and an overview of situational and individual determinants of burnout are discussed. Among the situational factors are work overload, injustice and lack of social support.
Over-involvement in the client is an individual risk factor. Paradoxically, however, it is not the agreeable and social member of the helping professions who is most vulnerable but his or her 'macho' counterpart, which may be good news for most client-centered therapists.
Special attention is given to burnout-related processes and their management in the dynamics of the therapist-client relationship.
The tPeP (Journal Person-centered experiential Psychotherapy) is the scientific journal for Dutch and Flemish psychotherapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists, that work from, or are interested in a client-centered perspective.
