A recent study conducted by team of researchers at the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute set out to learn what therapists experience at a physiological level in clinical situations they encounter on the job. The study had a particular focus on therapists who work with clients who exhibit challenging behavior.
The study examined therapists’ physiological experiences when encountering challenging behavior. It was led by Emily Sullivan, PhD, adjunct assistant professor in the integrated Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Tara Fahmie, PhD, director of the MMI Department of Severe Behavior, as well as Jamie Gehringer, PhD, formerly in the MMI Department of Physical Therapy.
“It’s step one for a potential line of research on getting better ideas for how therapists, or even parents, react to children in crises,” Dr. Fahmie said. “There’s a lot of research on how therapists stay safe externally. But this study also considered how they feel on the inside.”
The study outlines what equipment to use, how to analyze results and potential barriers that may crop up, Dr. Fahmie said.
In the study, therapists wore wristbands that measured electrodermal activity, widely considered one of the most valid markers of physiological stress, Dr. Sullivan said. Stress reaction was measured when no clients were present, when clients were interacting with therapists and when clients were exhibiting challenging behavior.
Results showed an increase in physiological arousal when clients were present, with highest levels observed in situations involving challenging behavior.
Stress response isn’t necessarily a bad thing, Dr. Fahmie said. It may allow therapists to respond and use de-escalation strategies more quickly. But it may also have a detrimental effect on wellbeing and be a potential factor in burnout.
Knowing what therapists are experiencing physiologically can create a better understanding of what leads to burnout, Dr. Fahmie said.
“There’s a high turnover rate in behavioral organizations,” she said. “A lot of people are trying to pinpoint what’s contributing to burnout.”
The study provides “an early step,” she said, toward understanding physiological experiences of therapists and underscoring the importance of supporting research on employee wellness in behavioral health settings.