1. Combatting Compassion Fatigue Strategies for professional endurance Lucy Hammond MA LPC Lucy Hammond Counseling Services Hospital Council of Western PA 3.26.2015

2. Lucy Hammond MA, LPC Community Mental Health Therapist – office based, school based and community based treatment. Educator – Teaching primary and intermediate grades 1- 8, Director of Children’s programs in local Parish, adjunct faculty for Geneva College’s Masters in Counseling Parent – grown kids (no grandkids, but nieces and nephews ranging from 1 to 23) Recovered ‘Burned Out’ professional.

3. But lately several days have attacked me at once. I try to take things ONE DAY AT A TIME

4. Does this sound familiar? You MIGHT be suffering from compassion fatigue if … Adapted from Larowe K. (2005)

5. How do you know if you have compassion fatigue? Filly C. (2002)

6. Defining the terms: What is compassion fatigue? Compassion – EmotionalFatigue – Exhaustion ~ A form of emotional exhaustion that occurs after repeated exposure to the suffering of others while in a caring role. Skovholt T. (2001)

7. Who suffers from it? Often people in Caring Professions Nurses, doctors and medical professionals Social workers, case managers, counselors and those who help lower- income populations. Full – time caregivers of small children or the chronically ill. Teachers, Head Start and Early Childhood Professionals Police, Firefighters, EMTs and Crisis Responders Skovholt T. (2001); Figley C. (2002); LaRowe, K (2005)

8. Why are some people with those jobs more vulnerable to compassion fatigue ? Personal Characteristics Contentious Competent Compassionate Committed Task Characteristics Significant Needs Limited Resources Time pressure and Deadlines Difficulties are common Skovholt K, (2001); Figley C. (2002)

9. Defining the terms: How is that different from ‘Burnout’? “ Burnout is a process that involves a) gradual repeated exposure to job strains; b) the erosion of idealism and c) a lack of a sense of achievement.” Gentry (2007) “Burnout occurs when there is a chronic condition of perceived demands that outweigh perceived resources.” Baranowsky (2010). Untreated Compassion Fatigue can lead to burn out. Figley C. (2002)

10. What can we do to combat this phenomenon? Systemic Prevention is possible - Organizational policies and procedures can be evaluated and adapted to enhance the resiliency of employees and staff. Primarily individual responsibility rests with each individual to manage themselves (and their stresses) both in and out of the workplace!! SELF CARE is the KEY!! Figley C. (2002)

11. Self-Care is multi-dimensional!! Physical Strategies Psychological Strategies Emotional Strategies Spiritual Self-care Work strategies Baranowsky A. (2010)

12. Do a little self assessment!

13. What areas of your life need attention to protect you from compassion fatigue and burn out?

14. Make your plan! Find the resources. What do you need to succeed?

15. Sources Skovholt, T. (2001). The Resilient Practitioner. Allyn & Bacon. Figley, C. (2002). Treating compassion fatigue. New York: Brunner-Routledge. LaRowe, K. (2005). Breath of relief: Transforming compassion fatigue through flow. Boston, Mass.: Acanthus Pub. Gentry, PhD LMHC, J. E. (Director) (2007, September 27). Compassion Fatigue: Prevention & Resiliency. Training session. Lecture conducted from PESI Healthcare LLC, Pittsburgh, PA. Baranowsky, PhD C Psych., A. (Director) (2010, April 24). Compassion Fatigue Specialist Training. Traumatology Certification. Lecture conducted from Traumatology Institute, Toronto, Ontario CANADA.