3.0 Credit Hours
Presented by: Robert Ortega PhD
ALL REGISTERED ATTENDEES WILL RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY RECORDING OF POLITICAL STRESS
Course Overview
As sociopolitical volatility intensifies, clinicians increasingly encounter activist burnout - a complex state of psychological depletion among those engaged in civic engagement. This course provides insights into the unique struggles facing those who do social justice work. Participants will explore the concepts of institutional betrayal, vicarious trauma, and moral injury as specific markers of burnout, distinguishing it from generic burnout presentations. Self-compassion, radical hope, and organizational intervention will be discussed as pathways for addressing and preventing symptoms of activist burnout.
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:
- Identify specific stressors and predictors of burnout among activist populations.
- Discuss the relationship between societal stressors, organizational misalignment, and individual experiences of burnout.
- Describe approaches to address activist burnout through individual and organizational lenses.
About the Presenter:
Robert Ortega completed his B.A. at Georgetown University. He received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Oregon after completing an APA-accredited clinical internship at American University. Robert owns RIO Therapies, where he works as a clinician and educator. He regularly treats activists and advocates in individual and group therapy. He has published research in the fields of critical consciousness, and his dissertation explored the relationship between political action behaviors and mental health symptoms.
Registration:
Registering on the website preferred.
Early Bird deadline: May 22, 2026
Members:
- On or before Early Bird Registration deadline: $75
- After Early Bird Registration deadline: $100
Non-Members
- On or before Early Bird Registration deadline: $125
- After Early Bird Registration deadline: $150
Students
- Student/Resident UPA Members: Free
- Non-members students: $15
Utah Psychological Association