Because of the work that counselors do, particularly trauma counselors, we are at a high risk of compassion fatigue or burnout. In this series of posts, I will describe risk factors, assessments and suggestions for prevention.
Compassion Fatigue
Compassion means to have deep sympathy for someone who is suffering. Fatigue is weariness from mental exertion. Therefore compassion fatigue is a weariness that occurs from secondary traumatic exposure. Since listening to client’s stories about traumatic incidences is part of their job, trauma counselors in particular are vulnerable to compassion fatigue.
Symptoms include:
- Being easily frustrated or annoyed
- Symptoms of depression including loss of energy and social withdrawal
- Feeling ineffective or inadequate
- Feeling over-alert; restless and jumpy
- Reduced sex drive
- Depersonalizing your clients
- Loss of sense of personal safety and control
Very caring people are at higher risk for compassion fatigue. Since most counselors got into this field because they care about people, it follows that counselors are at a higher risk. However, also at increased risk are those with low levels of social support, or those who are habitually negative or anxiety-prone.
Burnout
Burnout is usually related to poor organizational structures in the workplace, resulting in a high workload with little or no support. Therapists working in an agency are at higher risk for burnout as compared to those who work in private practice. (It’s one of the reasons I am in private practice).
Some burnout symptoms are similar to compassion fatigue (i.e. depression symptoms), but compassion fatigue symptoms are generally more PTSD-related because it usually involves exposure to trauma, where burnout does not. Burnout may be easily fixed by simply leaving your job, whereas it is more challenging to address compassion fatigue.
In order to evaluate yourself for compassion fatigue and/or burnout, take this assessment: Professional Quality of Life Scale Handout.
It is particularly important for people who are empathetic to practice good self-care. If we do not take proper care of ourselves, we can start over-identifying with clients. You can utilize Self-Care Plan Handout to assist you in developing a self-care plan.
In my next post, I will discuss how counselors can protect against compassion fatigue and burnout.
Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,
Dr. Barbara LoFrisco
* Information in this post was obtained via personal communication with Martha Teater, via GoodTherapy.org teleconference, September 26, 2014
