Tips for dealing with Compassion Fatigue

Early recognition of the warning signs of compassion fatigue is one of the best ways to deal with compassion fatigue.  Warning signs may include:

• Increased irritability or impatience with clients
• Decreased concentration
• Feeling numb or detached
• Intrusive thoughts and intense feelings that don't lessen over time
• Dreams or nightmares about clients' traumas

It is important to seek help when you experience symptoms associated with compassion fatigue.  Seek assistance through supervisors and/or co-workers.  Recognize that compassion fatigue is an occupational hazard for counselors who work with clients who have experienced trauma.  It is not a sign of incompetence to have these symptoms, but a cost of caring.

Attend to your self care, whether it be increasing supervision, seeking personal counseling, and balancing your caseload so you are not working ONLY with clients who have experienced trauma.  Take care of yourself outside of work by eating well, exercising, and engaging in fun activities.

Choose Wellness!


Resources: 
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (2008).  Child Trauma Toolkit for Educators.  The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, www.NCSN.org.
Figley, C.R. (1995). Compassion fatigue: Coping with secondary traumatic stress disorder in those who treat the traumatized. New York: Brunner/Mazel, Inc. 

Symptoms of Counselor Burnout

Burnout is a syndrome of exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy and is a serious health risk for counselors.  Burnout Syndrome is a progression process and can affect anyone!

Warning symptoms of Burnout Syndrome might include:

• Emotional Symptoms:  Frustration, anxiety, mood swings, irritability, or excessive worrying. 

• Mental Symptoms:  Negative attitude, confusion, boredom with work responsibilities, forgetfulness and poor concentration.

• Physical Symptoms: Fatigue, insomnia, headaches, problems with digestion, changes in appetite, and increased use of drugs, alcohol or tabacco.

• Spiritual Symptoms:  Loss of meaning or direction, martyrdom, feelings of emptiness or cynicism. 

• Relational Symptoms: Depersonalization of clients, resentment, increased isolation or loneliness.

Cotton, Frances; Gilbertson, Joni; Hornsby, Mary; Raya, Shannon: Verdick, David (2000).  Counselor Burnout and Stress.  Retrieved August 8, 2012, from http://verdick.org/counselor-burnout-and-stress

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Meditation and the Brain

A research study conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in 2009, found that individuals who meditated showed more gray matter in specific regions of the brain than individuals in a non-meditating control group.  A recent follow-up study suggests that individuals who meditate regularly also have stronger neuronal connections between brain regions and less age-related shrinkage in all areas of the brain.  These results suggest that meditation may help slow down aging-related brain atrophy and positively affect the immune system (Natural Awakening, February 2012).  Practicing meditation yourself or with your clients may not only help minimize the negative impact of stressors on the body but also reduce aging-related changes in the brain.

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Vicarious Trauma

Vicarious Trauma, also known as Compassion Fatigue or Secondary Traumatic Stress, refers to the cumulative effect of working with survivors of traumatic life events.  Signs of Vicarious Trauma may include feeling overwhelmed, negative emotions, health problems, diminished self-worth, and avoiding work duties.

Therapists who work with young traumatized children have between a six percent and 26 percent risk of experiencing Vicarious Trauma due to repeated exposure to trauma stories and their empathic relationship with children who may be difficult to engage with.  Additional risk factors include blurred boundaries, the inability to say "no", a history of personal trauma, and repeated exposure to traumatic stories or events.

Strategies for coping at work include seeking support from others, seeking supervision, maintaining appropriate boundaries with clients, decreasing your case load, striving for balance between work and your personal life, and practicing self-care and relaxation techniques.

For more information, visit the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and download the NCTSN Secondary Traumatic Stress Fact Sheet.

National Child Traumatic Stress Learning Center (5.03.12).  Emotional challenges and self-care for those working with young traumatized children.  Retrieved May 3, 2012, from http://learn.NCTSN.org.

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Counselor Fatigue Syndromes

The term Counselor Fatigue Syndromes is used to group various professional fatigue reactions that can negatively impact a counselor.  Counselor Fatigue Syndromes include Empathy Fatigue Syndrome, Compassion Fatigue Syndrome, and Burnout Syndrome.

The American Counseling Association's Task Force on Counselor Wellness and Impairment (ACA, 2004) identified targeted prevention and resiliency education for counselors as an area for further development.  It is important to understand, and be able to identify, the job-related stressors that can place counselors at risk of developing a Counselor Fatigue Syndrome, with negative effects to psychological and/or physical health, as well as an increased risk for ethical or legal violations.

Mental health professionals and graduate counseling students who are knowledgeable of the signs and symptoms of Counselor Fatigue Syndromes can utilize this information in identifying healthy coping strategies when creating a Counselor Wellness Plan.

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Healthy Relationships

In the field of mental health counseling, there is a high degree of emotional investment and interpersonal involvement in our work.

Work-related experiences, both positive and negative, can have an impact on all our relationships, whether it be work-related colleagues or clients, or in our personal life with family and friends.

It's important to remember that any relationship can become stressful at times.  However, if negative work-related experiences are spilling over into your personal life, it is time to practice self-care.

Maintaining healthy relationships is a sign of good self-care!  


Healthy relationships include:

• Good communication
• Mutual respect 
• Respecting individuality
• Freedom to express yourself
• Encouraging other relationships
• Trust and Support
• Resolving conflicts fairly 

Choose Wellness!