Trauma stewardship: how therapists can protect their wellbeing | Rosie Weir | #047 Mastering Change

Therapists, clinicians and helpers often tell themselves they’re “fine” – even as the work wears down their nervous system. 

In this conversation, palliative care doctor Dr. Rosie Weir offers a compassionate guide to trauma stewardship: the practice of staying present to other people’s pain without losing yourself in it. 

Drawing from her years on the frontline of end-of-life care, Rosie explains how practitioners can unconsciously carry the emotional burden of others long after a session ends. 

‘If you're a painter and you're painting all day, you come home covered in paint. And that's what it's like doing this kind of work – you come home covered in other people’s emotional material.’ 

Rosie shares the practices that help her stay grounded and slow down, while challenging the belief that self-care must always be ‘active’ or fast paced to be effective. 

We discuss 

• The emotional residue practitioners carry and how to recognise it 
• Why slowing down is often more regulating than speeding up 
• Building a relationship with yourself as a foundation for resilience 
• How hobbies and joy act as protective factors 
• Why healing work must include the wellbeing of those who deliver it 

A reflective, grounding episode for anyone doing work that asks you to hold other people’s pain. 

Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. 

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