THE USE OF BODY PSYCHOTHERAPY METHODS IN OVERCOMING PROFESSIONAL BURNOUT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

Abstract

The article deals with the actual problem of professional burnout among law enforcement officers and suggests the use of body psychotherapy methods as an effective means of overcoming this phenomenon. The article defines the term "professional burnout" as a feeling of uselessness of people who are in a situation of intensive communication with others in an emotionally tense atmosphere. The author's views on the main causes and consequences of professional burnout in the context of law enforcement are considered. The vectors of prevention of professional burnout among law enforcement officers are outlined, such as: mitigation of organisational and status-role stresses in law enforcement agencies, including effective leadership, corporate development and team building; developing a rational and positive assessment of stressful situations, actualisation of personal resources of stress resistance and constructive models of coping with stress at work; developing the ability to control the level of personal stress, development of self-regulation skills and implementation of psychological training systems for personal growth and self-realisation at the institutional and individual levels. The article describes the main approaches, methods and recommendations for creating body psychotherapy exercises, such as: character analysis of W. Reich, bioenergetics of O. Lowen, thanatotherapy, which can be successfully applied to reduce stress, develop internal resources, increase emotional stability and improve the general psychophysical state of law enforcement officers. The authors also provide examples of specific exercises and methods that can be integrated into the workflow of law enforcement officers to effectively monitor emotional state and ensure mental health. The conclusions of the article emphasise the importance of introduction of body psychotherapy as an integral part of the professional workload of law enforcement officers and emphasise the need to overcome stereotypes about body psychotherapy in professional activities.