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. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.