Many healthcare facilities treating substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health issues see a spike in clients during the holidays. The increased caseload has the potential to cause burnout and additional stress for healthcare workers unless they take steps to prioritize their mental and physical health. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff members to create a healthy work-life balance and work as a team to address any increased client load during the holidays.
What Causes an Increased Client Load During the Holidays?
Holiday social gatherings may lead some people to realize their need for help. In addition, families that may not connect throughout the year often meet for holidays. Sometimes, families take the opportunity to prompt loved ones to get help. The holidays also create a sense of fellowship in many communities, causing people to reach out to individuals struggling with substance abuse or mental health issues.
Holiday plans may significantly reduce the number of healthcare workers available to take new cases. Time off for family vacations and traveling causes some departments to have fewer people available to keep up with increased client loads. Flexible scheduling and other solutions support staff without sacrificing the quality of client care.
Interventions Are More Popular During the Holidays
Many people seek treatment during the holidays. Families often use the holidays as an opportunity to host interventions or urge loved ones to get the help they need to manage substance abuse and mental health disorders. Frequently, people go directly from the intervention location to a treatment center, causing a spike in potential clients for some healthcare facilities during the holidays. Intervention specialists may contact rehabilitation programs and facilitate the transfer of intervention clients on behalf of families.
How Can Healthcare Workers Manage an Increased Client Load During the Holidays?
Clients may come all at once or as a steady stream of intakes. Healthcare professionals must find ways to manage the increased client load. Additional personal responsibilities during the holidays may make it more difficult for some professionals to focus at work. Combining additional responsibilities and more clients can stretch some people’s skills to breaking. Healthcare professionals need to plan for these moments and develop strategies to avoid emotional burnout during busy seasons.
Some of the ways staff at rehabilitation programs manage a large influx of clients during the holidays include:
- Temporarily increasing staff or cross-training to fill empty spaces in schedules
- Implementing a more streamlined intake process to more quickly assess and treat new clients
- Offering additional group therapy options to accommodate more individuals in treatment programs
- Providing flexible scheduling
- Offering telehealth services for individuals who do not require in-person care
- Partnering with private and community-based services
- Consistently communicating with families to facilitate family engagement during the holidays
Healthcare workers and supervisors can take many steps to improve the experience for clinicians and clients, reducing stress and increasing the effectiveness of treatment.
Setting Realistic Expectations and Strict Work-Life Boundaries
Professionals must set realistic expectations with clients, coworkers, family members, and friends to avoid feeling pulled in multiple directions. The best way to do this is by being specific and considering all factors affecting their ability to achieve the goal.
Clinicians treating SUD and mental health disorders often talk to clients about creating S.M.A.R.T. goals. Professionals can use the same principles to develop realistic expectations for work and home. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives is a good way to plan the steps to meet” short and long-term goals.
Making S.M.A.R.T. goals involves doing the following:
- Clearly defining what you want to achieve by setting specific goals
- Identifying criteria for tracking progress
- Setting attainable goals
- Ensuring smaller goals align with larger objectives
Structured and realistic goals set healthy expectations and increase the likelihood of success.
Effectively Navigating an Increased Client Load Without Compromising Treatment Quality
Driftwood Recovery is a leading rehabilitation center with luxury accommodations and high-quality services. The clinical team maintains high standards and provides world-class treatment programs. Staff members learn to effectively navigate increases in client loads without compromising treatment quality or client engagement. Professionals use their support network to develop healthy strategies for remaining productive with a large workload.
Practicing Self-Compassion and Self-Care
Healthcare professionals must treat themselves with grace and compassion to avoid feeling overworked and underappreciated. The holiday season is a difficult time for many people. Some professionals feel guilty for working longer hours and spending less time with family during the holiday rush. Practicing self-care and self-compassion can help healthcare professionals develop a more positive mindset.
Clients and coworkers benefit when clinicians give themselves the time and space to reenergize each week. A few examples of self-care people use to manage higher stress levels at work include:
- Spending time alone meditating or practicing mindfulness
- Participating in hobbies or other enjoyable activities
- Spending time with pets, loved ones, or social circles
- Setting clear boundaries
- Getting quality sleep each night
- Eating balanced, nutritious meals
Healthcare workers can provide exceptional care while maintaining positive mental health during the holidays.
During the winter months, many treatment facilities get inundated with new clients, contact from potential clients and their families, and alumni needing additional support navigating their first holiday sober. The increase in workload significantly impacts the emotional and physical health of clinicians and support staff. Management at Driftwood Recovery encourages employees to develop a work-life balance and set boundaries to support their mental health during the holidays. Staff need to prioritize their own well-being to provide high-quality care to clients recovering from addiction or mental health disorders. To learn more about our facility and how we support staff members during the holidays, contact our office today by calling (512) 759-8330.