Positive Psychotherapy for Reducing Burnout and Compassion Fatigue in Rehabilitation Staff

Reyhane  Afkhami; Yasser Rezapour  Mirsaleh; Hamidreza  Aryanpour

doi:10.18502/jmr.v20i2.21710

Reyhane Afkhami Department of Career Counseling, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran.
Yasser Rezapour Mirsaleh Department of Counseling, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran.
Hamidreza Aryanpour Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jmr.v20i2.21710

Keywords: Professional burnout; Compassion fatigue; Rehabilitation; Positive psychology

Abstract

Introduction: Positive psychology may serve as a protective approach against fatigue and burnout in environments where workers face disability, adversity, and suffering. The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy based on the positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment (PERMA) flourishing model in reducing occupational burnout and compassion fatigue among staff working in rehabilitation centers affiliated with the Welfare Organization—an understudied population whose wellbeing may affect service quality and client outcomes.

Materials and Methods: A single-case experimental design was used with five rehabilitation staff members from Yazd Province, Iran. Participants received eight weekly sessions of the PERMA flourishing program. Burnout and compassion fatigue were assessed before, during, and after the intervention, with clinical improvement evaluated using the reliable change index (RCI).

Results: The results demonstrated a significant reduction in burnout and compassion fatigue, with an acceptable percentage of improvement and RCI values exceeding 1.96 (P<0.05). For emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and secondary traumatic stress, RCI values exceeded

2.58 (P<0.01), with improvement percentages ranging from 23–100%, 52–64%, and 24–80%, respectively. For compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress, RCI values ranged from 1.96 to 2.58 (P<0.05), with improvement percentages of 14–48%, 25– 52%, and 23–33%, respectively. These results indicated statistically and clinically meaningful improvements following the PERMA flourishing intervention.

Conclusion: Based on these findings, the PERMA flourishing program may be an effective intervention for reducing occupational burnout and compassion fatigue among rehabilitation personnel.