Combatting Compassion Fatigue

Strategies for professional endurance

Lucy Hammond MA LPC

Lucy Hammond Counseling Services

Hospital Council of Western PA 3.26.2015

Lucy Hammond MA, LPC

Community Mental Health Therapist – office based, school based and community based treatment.

Educator – Teaching primary and intermediate grades 1-8, Director of Children’s programs in local Parish, adjunct faculty for Geneva College’s Masters in Counseling

Parent – grown kids (no grandkids, but nieces and nephews ranging from 1 to 23)

Recovered ‘Burned Out’ professional.

But lately several days have attacked me at once.

I try to take thingsONE DAY AT A TIME

Does this sound familiar?

You MIGHT be suffering from compassion fatigue

if …

Adapted from Larowe K. (2005)

Filly C. (2002)

How do you know if you have compassion fatigue?

Skovholt T. (2001)

Defining the terms:What is compassion fatigue?

Compassion – Emotional Fatigue – Exhaustion

~ A form of emotional exhaustion that occurs after repeated exposure to the suffering of others while in a caring role.

Skovholt T. (2001); Figley C. (2002); LaRowe, K (2005)

Who suffers from it? Often people in Caring Professions

Nurses, doctors and medical professionals

Social workers, case managers, counselors and those who help lower-income populations.

Full – time caregivers of small children or the chronically ill.

Teachers, Head Start and Early Childhood Professionals

Police, Firefighters, EMTs and Crisis Responders

Skovholt K, (2001); Figley C. (2002)

Why are some people with those jobs more vulnerable

to compassion fatigue ?

Personal Characteristics

Contentious

Competent

Compassionate

Committed

TaskCharacteristics

Significant Needs

Limited Resources

Time pressure and Deadlines

Difficulties are common

Figley C. (2002)

Defining the terms:

How is that different from ‘Burnout’?

“ Burnout is a process that involves a) gradual repeated exposure to job strains; b) the erosion of idealism and c) a lack of a sense of achievement.” Gentry (2007)

“Burnout occurs when there is a chronic condition of perceived demands that outweigh perceived resources.” Baranowsky (2010).

Untreated Compassion Fatigue can lead to burn out.

Figley C. (2002)

What can we do to combat this phenomenon?

Systemic Prevention is possible - Organizational policies and procedures can be evaluated and adapted to enhance the resiliency of employees and staff.

Primarily individual responsibility rests with each individual to manage themselves (and their stresses) both in and out of the workplace!!

SELF CARE is the KEY!!

Baranowsky A. (2010)

Self-Care is multi-dimensional!!

• Physical Strategies

Psychological Strategies

Emotional Strategies

Spiritual Self-care

Work strategies

Do a little self assessment!

What areas of your life need attentionto protect you from compassion fatigue and

burn out?

Make your plan! Find the resources.What do you need to succeed?

SourcesSkovholt, T. (2001). The Resilient Practitioner. Allyn & Bacon.

Figley, C. (2002). Treating compassion fatigue. New York: Brunner-Routledge.

LaRowe, K. (2005). Breath of relief: Transforming compassion fatigue through flow. Boston, Mass.: Acanthus Pub.

Gentry, PhD LMHC, J. E. (Director) (2007, September 27). Compassion Fatigue: Prevention & Resiliency. Training session. Lecture conducted from PESI Healthcare LLC, Pittsburgh, PA.

Baranowsky, PhD C Psych., A. (Director) (2010, April 24). Compassion Fatigue Specialist Training. Traumatology Certification. Lecture conducted from Traumatology Institute, Toronto, Ontario CANADA.