This workshop examines the pervasive yet frequently overlooked challenge of secondary traumatic stress (STS) among clinical social work supervisors, emphasizing strategies for personal prevention and management. Supervisors often experience cumulative exposure to trauma through their supervisees, heightening their own risk for emotional depletion, reduced empathy, and burnout. This session will provide an evidence-informed framework for recognizing early indicators of STS and implementing individualized approaches to mitigate its impact. Through exploration of reflective practice, boundary setting, emotional regulation, and sustainable self-care, participants will develop tools to strengthen personal resilience and professional longevity. The workshop underscores that tending to one’s own well-being is not only an ethical responsibility but also foundational to effective leadership and the maintenance of high standards in trauma-informed clinical supervision.

Participants will be guided through a play-filled meditation experience where they have the opportunity to invite their inner children to put on their explorer hats and splash in puddles while igniting the essence of adventure and play back into their lives and hearts. The meditation will bridge with an emphasis of loving kindness: self-affirmation and building friendship. Participants will then have the opportunity to Learn Core Mindfulness Skills: Observe, Describe, Participate, Non-Judgmental Stance, One-Mindful, and Effectiveness through an immersive play experience, their desk/space will temporarily become their playground as each skill is invited. The Second half of our meeting will be a Social-Work Show and Tell: participants will have the opportunity to highlight an item that has been either an: inspiration, cozy comfort, sacred tool, point of passion, and a powerful quote. During the Share Circle: Participants will further practice core-mindfulness skills as they take turns having contrasting roles between the sharer and the receiver of information. 

Statement of Rationale: The management of ethics, boundaries and confidentiality is especially critical for human service professionals and is in a constant state of change. This workshop will address the unique issues encountered during the provision of social services including the emergence of artificial intelligence, managed care, dramatic federal policy changes, workforce challenges, and the ethical implications.

Social workers today face unprecedented challenges: a youth mental health crisis amid provider shortages, rapid advances in artificial intelligence, and shifting demographic and policy landscapes that strain the social safety net. This workshop will examine how these emerging issues intersect with social work ethics and boundaries. Together we will explore critical questions: How can we support youth mental health with declining resources? Is Artificial Intelligence a useful tool to increase productivity and efficiency or a new threat to youth and our profession? What is the role of social workers in responding to anti-DEI policies and other harms to vulnerable groups that our profession is committed to serving? Participants will leave with practical strategies for ethical decision-making and upholding professional boundaries in an era of uncertainty and change.