- 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.
