An Alternative to the Narrative of Burnout in Social Work
Or, how a couple of us stay alive in this work
Keywords:
burnout, aliveness, autoethnography, reflective practice, structural violence, emotional labour, social work ethicsAbstract
This qualitative research project explores how social workers can sustain a sense of ongoing aliveness in their work, offering an alternative to dominant burnout narratives. Using a feminist methodological framework, I have combined my autoethnography with a semi-structured interview with a long-time colleague. Rather than positioning burnout as an individual failure to cope, this research centres the moral and political complexities of practicing social justice within systems that often produce harm.
Rooted in the work of Richardson & Reynolds, and drawing on theories of moral injury, radical care, and activist sustainability, I ask: What are the aliving practices that can help social workers stay connected to themselves, each other, and their values in the face of structural violence and injustice? Thematic analysis of field notes, transcripts, and reflective writing revealed key themes including a shared sense of purpose and politicized passion; the protective and generative role of connection with colleagues and communities; and the role of language and theory in building collective meaning and resistance.
The findings suggest that social workers resist burnout not through a focus on individual self-care, but also through collective practices of meaning-making, solidarity, and ethical accountability. These aliving practices function as both a buffer against moral pain and a site of ongoing resistance and relationship. Rather than asking "How do we avoid burning out?" this study reframes the question to: "What keeps us alive in this work?"
This project contributes to the growing body of research that challenges depoliticized understandings of burnout in social work and foregrounds collective, relational, and justice-oriented strategies for sustainability. It is intended as a starting point for those seeking to stay ethically and emotionally engaged in social (justice) work over time.
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