When Self-Care Isn’t Enough: Addressing the Roots of Burnout in Victim Advocacy to Create Change

On a good day, victim advocates are tired. On the worst days, they’re barely recognizable to themselves, hollowed out by the weight of work that never stops mattering. Burnout in victim advocacy isn’t a weakness. It’s a signal. And it demands more than a bubble bath.

This workshop moves beyond surface-level self-care to examine the systemic roots of burnout: the underfunding, the impossible caseloads, the cultures of silence that ask advocates to absorb trauma without support. We’ll name what’s actually happening, and we’ll build tools to do something about it.

Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how organizational dynamics fuel exhaustion, and with concrete strategies for advocating not just for survivors — but for themselves and the people they work alongside.

The session will also explore the intersection of mental health and organizational dynamics, offering practical tools to promote resilience and build more supportive environments in advocacy work.

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Speaker

Robyn C. Sordelett is a clinical social worker and advocate for trauma-informed care and violence prevention. Her career includes work in the criminal justice system, community organizations, and legislative advocacy on a federal and state level. Robyn is committed to empowering advocates to address their own psychological and emotional health in order to enhance survivor outcomes and wellness in the field. Her work focuses on vicarious trauma and resilience, systemic causes of burnout, and sustainable advocacy practices. Robyn has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Sociology from the University of Richmond and received her Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California.