Self-Care in Professionals Working with Women Survivors of Gender-Based Violence: A Thematic Analysis

This research analyses self-care among professionals working with female survivors of gender-based violence. The aim is to identify the meaning and strategies of self-care, as well as the challenges they face and the resources at their disposal. Four focus groups were conducted between June and October 2023 in the regions of Murcia and Castilla-La Mancha, both in-person and online. An ad hoc question guide was used. The inclusion criterion was working or having worked in the care of female survivors of gender-based violence. A total of 40 professionals from psychology and social work participated, mostly women, with an average age of 40 years and an average of 7 years of experience in this field of intervention. A thematic analysis was conducted following the model proposed by Braun and Clarke (2006). The analysis process involved categorising the data and identifying emerging patterns and themes, which specifically were: «Self-care as a necessity», «Caring harms», «Barriers to self-care», «Exposed to violence», and «Demands on the organisation». Each theme provides a detailed view of how this group of professionals practices self-care, the structural difficulties they face, the violence they experience, their health status, and the changes they propose to incorporate self-care into organisations. The discourse is framed within a tension between the individual and the social, where personal self-care cannot be understood without considering the power exerted by the institution over the work. The care of those who support women victims promotes professional well-being, contributes to fostering a positive attitude towards service users, and helps to prevent the re-victimisation of survivors. It is an essential part of preventing gender-based violence.