Activity 2: Hot Spots

Purpose: This activity is intended to help participants think about their "hot spots" or emotional reactions to the work they do. This is a personal reflection exercise designed to be done alone.

· For this activity you will need to keep a brief journal for a week.

Step 1: Keep a brief journal of feelings about your work for a week. Every day after work, make note of any incidents during the day that were particularly stressful for you. Also make note of events or incidents that you found particularly satisfying or rewarding.

Step 2: At the end of the week, review your journal. Are there any patterns or types of events that are typically difficult for you to handle? Are there types of experiences that are always particularly satisfying for you? Take for instance:

Carolina is a teacher at Bueno Migrant Head Start, a site caring for children six weeks to four years old. During the week Carolina kept a journal. She had a lot of difficulty with Alejandro (a two-year-old). He snatched toys away and pushed the younger infants. Carolina knew that this was developmentally predictable for Alejandro, but she noticed that it always left her feeling very angry. Carolina asked herself why she had such a strong reaction to Alejandro. Gradually she began to think about her own childhood and remembered that no one stopped her two older brothers from picking on her. Carolina wonders if this is influencing the way she feels about Alejandro.

Maya, a family services worker, was surprised to see in her journal that she always felt very good about herself on days that she went on home visits to Winona 's house. This surprised Maya, because lots of the other staff at the Head Start center didn't like to work with Winona. Winona has had problems with drugs and alcohol and her behavior can be frustrating for staff Maya realizes that she draws on the things she has learned attending support groups for children of alcoholics. It helps her know how to be clear and set limits with Winona. She gets frustrated too-but also feels good about herself for knowing how to handle it.

Step 3: If the reflections in your journal have made you think about any events or situations that are stressful for you, spend some time thinking about any sources of support that you can draw on to help you deal with your responses. Is there a colleague you can talk with? Could a coordinator help provide resources or suggestions? For instance:

· Carolina realized that protecting the younger children from aggressive behavior triggers strong emotions for her. She was not sure that her reactions in those situations were too intense, but thought she could use some support. Carolina asked Jorge, another teacher in the classroom, to stay close to Alejandro and intervene when he was aggressive with the babies. Carolina paid close attention to her reactions and watched Jorge work with Alejandro. She feels better seeing that Jorge responds in a similar way, and reminds herself to stop and separate her intense reactions from her response when these types of events happen.

· Maya realized that she has a special affinity for working with parents struggling with substance use issues. She knows that she may have to work particularly hard at keeping limits and making sure that she is not falling into her family patterns of trying to rescue people with these problems, but she also knows that she has the special understanding and experience to be helpful. Maya arranges to talk with her health coordinator to locate drug and alcohol counselor certification programs in her area and also to look into the possibility of getting some extra supervision when working with families with substance abuse issues.

Points to Consider:

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