Recovery Process for Empathy Fatigue

Empathy Fatigue is a result of the cumulative effects of multiple client sessions where a counselor primarily uses empathy-focused interactions which can lead to a decrease in a counselor's ability to effectively cope with stress.

As the counselor becomes overwhelmed by continued stories of grief, loss or trauma, his ability to empathize with his clients decreases. The issues discussed in sessions do not have to be extremely stressful or traumatic and can range from minor to traumatic issues.

The recovery process for empathy fatigue begins with the awareness of acute or cumulative symptoms that lead to emotional, mental, physical, spiritual or occupational exhaustion. Supervision in either an individual, peer or group structure, along with self-care practices can be very beneficial in improving a counselor's physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

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Empathy Fatigue

Empathy Fatigue (EF) is "...a state of psychological, emotional, mental, physical, spiritual, and occupational exhaustion…experienced by the counselor after listening to the stressful events and problems experienced by clients on an on-going, continual basis while providing consistent empathy and sensitivity.” (Empathy Fatigue, Dr. Mark Stebnicki, 2008)

Empathy Fatigue is a fatigue reaction experienced by mental health professionals who utilize empathy-focused interactions and person-centered theory and techniques as their primary means to build and establish therapeutic rapport with their clients.

Symptoms:

• A decreased ability to listen and respond empathically to clients.

• Counselors may be overwhelmed by emotions that parallel those of their clients and experience feelings of anxiety, depression, grief, loss or detachment.

• Symptoms can move along a continuum from low to moderate to high levels of fatigue, and have acute, cumulative or delayed onset reactions.

• Burnout Syndrome can result when a counselor reaches the significantly impaired phase of Empathy Fatigue. Significantly impaired phase can last weeks, months or even years.

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Recovery Process for Compassion Fatigue

Secondary traumatic stress reactions should be considered as inevitable for counselors who work with clients with traumatic stress.

Supervisors working in areas specializing in crisis or trauma work need to monitor and evaluate the levels of stress and trauma experienced by their staff on a regular basis.

Effective supervision plays a valuable role in addressing symptoms associated with compassion fatigue, as therapists may be reluctant to discuss their symptoms of compassion fatigue with co-workers or supervisors due to fears of job loss.

Practice healthy coping strategies by creating a personal wellness plan that embraces the cognitive, emotional, behavioral, spiritual, interpersonal and physical dimensions of wellness.

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Compassion Fatigue

Compassion Fatigue is "...the natural consequent behaviors and emotions resulting from knowledge about a traumatizing event experienced by a significant other or from helping or wanting to help a traumatized person". (Dr. Charles Figley, 1995)

Compassion Fatigue, also referred to as compassion stress or secondary traumatic stress, is a job hazard primarily associated with clinical settings and crisis events. Crisis workers who are the first responders in crisis situations or mental health practitioners who work with traumatized clients on a regular basis may experience negative consequences to their health and relationships and may be a risk for substance abuse or professional impairment.

Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue include:

• Psychological Distress - Addictive or compulsive behaviors, distressing emotions, nightmares, somatic complaints, or impairment in day-to-day functioning.

• Cognitive Shifts - Changes in beliefs assumptions or expectations; feeling guilty about good things in your life or feeling threatened or manipulated by your clients.

• Relational Disturbances - Changes in relationships, professionally or personally, where the counselor distances himself from others or takes excessive control or responsibility of clients or loved ones.

Causes of Compassion Fatigue:

• Direct client contact and prolonged exposure to clients who have experienced trauma. Fatigue response based on client-therapist relationship.

Higher risk of Compassion Fatigue for counselors who:

• are highly empathetic
• have had a personal experience with a traumatic event
• have unresolved traumatic conflicts
• work with traumatized children
• work with clients who have a history of psychological trauma, such as with military combat
• work with clients who have experienced trauma as a result of criminal victimization, natural disasters or social violence

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