1. Compassion Satisfaction, Compassion Fatigue and Self-Care for Professionals and Helpers
Russell (Rusty) Meadows, MSMFT, LPC, LADAC
Finding Hope Counseling Center, PLLC

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

3. 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

5. 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

6. “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

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

9. 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:

10. 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, Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL). 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.

11. 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).

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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)

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

19. 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.

20. 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

21. The ABC’s of Prevention
Awareness (

22. The ABC’s of Prevention
Awareness
Balance or Boundaries

23. The ABC’s of Prevention
Awareness
Balance
Connection

24. Compassion Satisfaction, Compassion Fatigue and Self-Care for Professionals and Helpers
Russell (Rusty) Meadows, MSMFT, LPC, LADAC
Finding Hope Counseling Center, PLLC