Occupational burnout in trauma-intensive services among psychotherapists and psychological counsellors in the Western Balkans

The focus of this paper is occupational burnout among psychotherapists and psychological counsellors working in trauma-oriented services in the Western Balkans. The aim was to describe burnout levels (Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI): emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA)) and to examine differences by gender, age, trauma training, length of professional experience, and time spent in the current position. A quantitative cross-sectional study (N=243) was conducted between April and June 2024 using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and a professional-demographic questionnaire. Analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, and one-way ANOVA. The results indicate a moderate level of emotional exhaustion, a moderate to low degree of depersonalization, and a relatively high proportion of low personal accomplishment. Women reported higher levels of EE, while trauma training and mid-career stage (6-10 years) were associated with higher EE and DP, but also with higher PA. These findings highlight the need to consider the balance between demands and resources within trauma-intensive services.