Looking after myself while caring for others: A pilot study on self-care in psychologists working in palliative care

The risks inherent to being a doctor or a nurse in palliative care are well known. Since palliative care is a context in which professionals are exposed to specific risks and challenges, self-care is important to promote a better practice and prevent burnout. However, little research has been conducted to determine the impact palliative care setting has in clinical psychologists. It is necessary to explore the influence this work has on the well-being of psychologists, and the relevance they attribute to self-care. This qualitative study explores the experiences of clinical psychologists working in palliative care in order to understand the various aspects related to their self-care. Eleven Portuguese psychologists working in palliative care participated in semi-structured interviews. A thematic analysis was performed, and three main domains emerged: (1) working in palliative care and its impact; (2) self-care: how, what for and why not more; and (3) self-care learning. The findings suggest that being a psychologist in this setting has risks, as being exposed to human suffering, but also has existential positive benefits that allow them to seize their own lives and understand the strengths of humankind. Self-care practices are perceived as improving professional performance and contribute to the well-being of the psychologist. Also, participants recognized some barriers to self-care that seem to be related to the little access to self-care information during their training. This research allows an understanding of self-care practices and gives relevance to this topic within palliative care psychologists.