ABSTRACT The impact of working as art therapists in the NHS during protracted change processes, with people with learning disabilities (LD), was investigated in a qualitative heuristic doctoral study (Ashby, 2018), which considered concerns about emotional exhaustion and reduced efficacy, symptoms of burnout (Maslach, 1982), as a result of occupational stress. The researcher’s own data was examined, and 15 art therapists employed by NHS Trusts across England were interviewed. This article explores how the research was conducted, its findings related to LD services in the NHS and wider employment issues, and addresses how the findings are relevant to all art therapists. Most burnout studies are quantitative and consider workplace sources of occupational stress, but this qualitative research importantly revealed how crucial personal sources of support and stress were in terms of aiding or reducing clinicians’ capacities to cope. There was evidence of job satisfaction, resilience, and personal growth developed over years of practice, and high levels of stress resulted in symptoms of burnout in some participants, but recovery was shown to be possible. Plain-language summary Research into the impact of working as an art therapist in learning disability (LD) services in the NHS in England during long periods of change processes found sources of stress and of job satisfaction (Ashby, 2018). The doctoral research was qualitative, using heuristic methodology as the researcher had experience of the issues investigated, and 15 art therapists were interviewed. This article discusses the relevant literature, the way the research was done, and findings of the research; it applies the knowledge gained to the situations many art therapists experience in their practice with different organisations and work environments. The impact on art therapists was investigated as both positive and negative aspects of their working lives were evident, and sources of job satisfaction and of occupational stress were experienced, including burnout symptoms of emotional exhaustion and reduced capacity to work, though not depersonalisation (Maslach, 1982). Organisational sources of satisfaction and stress within NHS LD services were identified, and employment issues for art therapists became apparent in relation to job insecurity, within the depressed employment market. This qualitative research found that personal sources of support or stress could result in art therapists being able or unable to manage coping with occupational stress if multiple sources of stress were present. Burnout symptoms of emotional exhaustion and a reduced capacity to manage their workload resulted from these situations for some participants, however, those affected were able to recover when they addressed the occupational stress that had become too much for them; no participants avoided contact with service users.

中文翻译：

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NHS 变更流程对在 LD 服务中工作的艺术治疗师的影响

摘要 一项定性启发式博士研究 (Ashby, 2018) 研究了在长期变革过程中在 NHS 担任艺术治疗师对有学习障碍 (LD) 的人的影响，该研究考虑了对情绪衰竭和疗效降低、症状的担忧职业压力导致的倦怠（Maslach，1982）。检查了研究人员自己的数据，并采访了英国 NHS Trusts 雇用的 15 名艺术治疗师。本文探讨了这项研究是如何进行的，其发现与 NHS 中的 LD 服务和更广泛的就业问题有关，并说明这些发现如何与所有艺术治疗师相关。大多数职业倦怠研究是定量的，并考虑工作压力的工作场所来源，但这项定性研究重要地揭示了个人支持和压力来源在帮助或降低临床医生应对能力方面的重要性。有证据表明，工作满意度、适应力和个人成长在多年的实践中得到了发展，高度压力导致一些参与者出现倦怠症状，但事实证明恢复是可能的。简明语言摘要 研究在长期变革过程中作为艺术治疗师在英国 NHS 的学习障碍 (LD) 服务中工作的影响发现了压力和工作满意度的来源 (Ashby, 2018)。博士研究是定性的，使用启发式方法，因为研究人员对所调查的问题有经验，并采访了 15 位艺术治疗师。本文讨论了相关文献，研究进行的方式，以及研究的结果；它将所获得的知识应用于许多艺术治疗师在不同组织和工作环境中实践的情况。对艺术治疗师的影响进行了调查，因为他们工作生活的积极和消极方面都很明显，并且经历了工作满意度和职业压力的来源，包括情绪衰竭和工作能力下降的倦怠症状，但没有人格解体（Maslach， 1982）。确定了 NHS LD 服务中满意度和压力的组织来源，并且在低迷的就业市场中，艺术治疗师的就业问题与工作不安全感有关。这项定性研究发现，如果存在多种压力来源，个人支持或压力来源可能会导致艺术治疗师能够或无法应对职业压力。对于一些参与者来说，这些情况导致情绪疲惫和管理工作量的能力下降的倦怠症状，但是，当他们解决对他们来说太大的职业压力时，受影响的人能够恢复；没有参与者避免与服务使用者接触。那些受影响的人在解决对他们来说太大的职业压力时能够康复；没有参与者避免与服务使用者接触。那些受影响的人在解决对他们来说太大的职业压力时能够康复；没有参与者避免与服务使用者接触。