Compassion Satisfaction, Compassion Fatigue and Self-Care for Professionals and Helpers Russell (Rusty) Meadows, MSMFT, LPC, LADAC Finding Hope Counseling Center, PLLC www.findinghopecc.com www.findinghopecounselingcenter.com Email: rusty@findinghopecc.com

CS-CF Model Professional Quality of Life Compassion Satisfaction Compassion Fatigue Burnout Secondary Trauma

Compassion Satisfaction The positive aspects working as a helper Pleasure and satisfaction derived from working in helping, care giving systems May be related to Providing care The system Work with colleagues Beliefs about self Altruism

Compassion Fatigue The negative aspects of helping The negative aspects of working in helping systems may be related to Providing care To the system Work with colleagues Beliefs about self Burnout Work-related trauma

“We have not been directly exposed to the trauma scene, but we hear the story told with such intensity, or we hear similar stories so often, or we have the gift and curse of extreme empathy and we suffer. We feel the feelings of our clients. We experience their fears. We dream their dreams. Eventually, we lose a certain spark of optimism, humor and hope. We tire. We aren’t sick, but we aren’t ourselves.” – C. Figley, 1995 https://www.stress.org/military/for-practitionersleaders/compassion-fatigue

BURNOUT A cumulative process marked by emotional exhaustion, hopelessness and a feeling of inefficacy associated with increased workload and institutional stress, NOT trauma-related.

Burnout is not a psychiatric diagnosis but a concept of the occupational psychology concerning the impact of working conditions on the psyche of affected persons. Depression and burnout appear to be interrelated. Research reported the overlap of job-related burnout and depressive disorders, i.e., major depressive disorder, dysthymia, and minor depressive disorder and the need for their differential diagnosis has been highlighted in many reviews. Ahola K, Honkonen T, Isometsa E, Kalimo R, Nykyri E, et al. (2005) The relationship between job-related burnout and depressive disorders--results from the Finnish Health 2000 Study. J Affect Disord 88: 55-62.

Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS): Co-Travelers Work-related hopelessness and feelings of inefficacy STS Work-related traumatic stress Secondary traumatic exposure to event due to a relationship with the primary person Work-related secondary exposure to extremely or traumatically stressful events Both share negative affect Burnout is about being worn out STS is about being afraid © Beth Hudnall Stamm, 2009. Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL). www.proqol.org. This test may be freely copied as long as (a) author is credited, (b) no changes are made without author authorization, and (c) it is not sold.

Commonalitities of Burnout and Compassion Fatigue: Emotional exhaustion Reduced sense of personal accomplishment or meaning in work Mental exhaustion Decreased interactions with others (isolation) Depersonalization (symptoms disconnected from real causes) Physical exhaustion Clear difference: Compassion fatigue has a more rapid onset while burnout emerges over time. Compassion Fatigue has a faster recovery (less severe, if recognized and managed early).

Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue – Affects many dimensions of your well-being – Nervous system arousal (Sleep disturbance) – Emotional intensity increases – Cognitive ability decreases – Behavior and judgment impaired – Isolation and loss of morale

Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue (cont.) --Depression and PTSD (potentiate) – Loss of self-worth and emotional modulation – Identity, worldview, and spirituality impacted – Beliefs and psychological needs-safety, trust, esteem, intimacy, and control – Loss of hope and meaning=existential despair – Anger toward perpetrators or causal events

Complex Relationships Professional Quality of Life Compassion Fatigue Compassion Satisfaction (ProQOL CS) Work Environment Client Environment Personal Environment Traumatized by work Secondary Exposure (ProQOL STS) Primary Exposure Frustration Anger Exhaustion Depressed by Work Environment (ProQOL Burnout)

Relationships Are Complex Multiple spheres Work environment “People helped” environment Personal environment Positive (CS) & negative (CF) Altruism CS can override CF Compassion Fatigue two parts Worn out (BO) common Frightened, traumatized (STS) rarer but powerful

People Bring Themselves People bring a past and a present to anything they do Their schemas and beliefs Their stigma beliefs Their social support systems Positive support Negative support Their history of trauma and illness Their families and close others Their economic situation

People Bring Themselves Suicide Prevention workers include people with all types of education, training and income Some workers bring with them histories of difficult lives that may include trauma Some people have difficult family, economic, or other personal situations Same photo on both CS and CF page, both feelings can exist in the same situation

Tips for Managing Compassion Fatigue Do: -Find someone to talk to. -Understand that the pain you feel is normal. -Exercise and eat properly. -Get enough sleep. -Take some time off. -Develop interests outside of medicine. -Identify what’s important to you.

Tips for Managing Compassion Fatigue (cont.) Don’t: -Blame others. -Look for a new job, buy a new car, get a divorce or have an affair. -Fall into the habit of complaining with your colleagues. -Hire a lawyer. -Work harder and longer. -Self-medicate. -Neglect your own needs and interests. — Source: Landstuhl Regional Medical Center

The ABC’s of Prevention Awareness (www.proqol.org)

The ABC’s of Prevention Awareness Balance or Boundaries

The ABC’s of Prevention Awareness Balance Connection

Compassion Satisfaction, Compassion Fatigue and Self-Care for Professionals and Helpers Russell (Rusty) Meadows, MSMFT, LPC, LADAC Finding Hope Counseling Center, PLLC www.findinghopecc.com www.findinghopecounselingcenter.com Email: rusty@findinghopecc.com