Title: Defining Compassion Fatigue, Vicarious Trauma and Burnout
Headings: What is Compassion Fatigue?
What is Compassion Fatigue?
Click here for a downloadable PDF to share with your organization
Hoping to address your Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma in person? Check out our live events!
What is the difference between compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma and burnout?
Example:
What are some of the signs of compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma?
For more information, check out this article Warning signs of Vicarious Trauma/Secondary Traumatic Stress and Compassion Fatigue
What factors contribute to CF/VT and Burnout?
The Individual:
The Situation:
What can be done?
Working in a Healthy Organization:
Personal Strategies:
What if those strategies aren’t enough?
What if I think that someone close to me is suffering from CF?
I am a manager, how can I help support my staff?
Continue reading: Warning Signs of Vicarious Trauma, Secondary Traumatic Stress and Compassion Fatigue
I’d like to know more!
Looking for a keynote speaker? Get in touch!
Subscribe to our mailing list and receive updates on events, trainings and free resources to your mailbox.
Join our Facebook group and connect with other professionals about compassion fatigue, burnout and vicarious trauma.
Sources:

Content: Compassion fatigue and Vicarious Trauma are much more complicated than just being tired and overworked. They are often caused by a conflict between our deepest values and the work that we are required to do, a phenomenon which is called moral distress. Using our specialized course in Compassion Fatigue, TEND has worked with individuals who are not in the helping field but who still feel severe work-related burnout (e.g. someone working as an administrative assistant in a toxic work environment). What are some of the signs of compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma? Researchers have discovered that helpers, when they are overtaxed by the nature of their work, begin to show symptoms that are very similar to their traumatized clients. These symptoms can negatively affect the workplace and create a toxic work environment. Difficulty concentrating
Intrusive imagery
Feeling discouraged about the world
Hopelessness
Exhaustion and irritability
High attrition (helpers leaving the field)
Negative outcomes (dispirited, cynical workers remaining in the field, boundary violations)
For more information, check out this article Warning signs of Vicarious Trauma/Secondary Traumatic Stress and Compassion Fatigue
What factors contribute to CF/VT and Burnout? There are many reasons for which helping professionals can develop compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma. These are described in Saakvitne and Pearlman’s book “Transforming the Pain” (1996): The Individual: