3-2 activity: ei careers and compassion fatigue

11/9/23, 10:08 PMRecognizing Compassion Fatigue in the Helping Professions – Idealist

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Career Advice …

AT WORK WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Recognizing Compassion Fatigue
in the Helping Professions
Apr 26, 2021 10:00 AM

Working in the nonprofit or social-impact sector o4ers an opportunity to build a

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11/9/23, 10:08 PMRecognizing Compassion Fatigue in the Helping Professions – Idealist

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meaningful and rewarding career. The concept of being part of something bigger than

oneself or working for the greater good appeals to our sense of community, shared

humanity, and global citizenship.

But sometimes the repetitive outreach can drain our emotional reserves. It’s easy to

forget that our bodies, minds, and souls require nourishment. For those of us in the

helping professions, a path to sustenance is the practice of self-care (this doesn’t

mean simply taking a warm bath at night; although those are nice too).

The helping professions, defined
Helping professionals include fields such as medicine, nursing, psychotherapy,

psychological counseling, social work, education, and other direct-service roles.

These types of jobs oIen involve intense, interpersonal interactions that occur

repeatedly throughout the work day. Individuals in these settings are nurturers,

caregivers, sounding boards, and listeners. They are constantly extending themselves

outward in the service of assisting others.

When caring for others, it is common to lose sight of one’s own feelings and needs. For

example, when a patient has been diagnosed with cancer, it is easy to get lost in our

empathy. And when a client or co-worker, along with her three children, is evicted

from her home, it is instinctually human to be swept away by her despair.

But when we become engulfed by the trauma we encounter at work, we put ourselves

at risk of developing compassion fatigue.

11/9/23, 10:08 PMRecognizing Compassion Fatigue in the Helping Professions – Idealist

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What is compassion fatigue?
Compassion Fatigue is generally defined as “…the sheer exhaustion experienced in

clinical work as we do our very best to meet the needs of others, day aIer day, year

aIer year.“ It sounds intense, because it is—and it can swallow us whole, if we let it.

This is where setting healthy boundaries becomes useful.

Strategies for self-care
We all have our reasons for choosing the career path (or paths) we take. I remember

changing my course at the age of 23. In the aIermath of a life-altering event, I was leI

yearning to do something more purpose-driven.

I decided to make the transition from corporate communications to the field of social

work. More specifically, I returned to graduate school to earn my MSW in clinical social

work.

It turns out that I was ill-prepared for the depth, breadth, and scope of my role, and

how working with vulnerable populations could so fundamentally impact me.

Fortunately, throughout my graduate program, I encountered responsible professors,

clinicians, and mentors who insisted I pay attention to the process involved when

walking with others through their challenges. Social workers process everything. In

school this drove me a little nutty, but in life I am forever grateful for the disciplined

guidance. I was constantly reminded to maintain my sense of otherness. I learned it

was possible to help my clients without joining them in whatever the situation was

that brought us together.

11/9/23, 10:08 PMRecognizing Compassion Fatigue in the Helping Professions – Idealist

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Boundaries are our bu4ers, our barriers of self-protection. But they don’t just

magically happen. They require cultivation and maintenance.

How you “do” boundaries
Stick to your schedule. Do not come in early, and do not stay late. This one is hard

because there will always be a compelling reason to stay. Resist the urge. You will

thank me for this later.

Learn how to say no without feeling guilty. This point and the previous one are

Boundary Setting 101. Know them and embrace them, for they will be the reason your

work remains meaningful.

Process everything. If you are a social worker, you already know what this means

because you wrote process recordings in your sleep throughout graduate school. For

those of you who aren’t as familiar with this term, it means: pay attention to yourself

and the feelings that come up for you while at work, write your feelings down in a

journal or on your smartphone, and share these feelings with a supervisor or mentor

—someone other than your pet.

Exercise, meditate, or find external pursuits that make you feel good. Figure out

what it means to take care of yourself and stick to it. You can take a bath as part of this

step, but do something to get sweaty beforehand. Your endorphins will pay you back

with elevated moods and better quality sleep.

Get sweaty during the work day. Yes, you read that correctly. Recently, organizations

have begun promoting work-life balance for their employees by o4ering programs

such as in-o4ice yoga, meditation, and massage. For those of us working remotely,

11/9/23, 10:08 PMRecognizing Compassion Fatigue in the Helping Professions – Idealist

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proactively avoiding burnout is no less important—and since we aren’t in the o4ice,

the responsibility falls on us to be mindful of our own well-being. Taking a break

midday for exercise or fresh air can make a world of di4erence for our morale and

productivity.

Re-evaluate every now and then. Are you still finding fulfillment through your work?

If not, process why. Perhaps your boundaries need an adjustment? Maybe you forgot

to use your vacation days?

Reap the benefits
If you love what you do, take care of yourself. If you take care of yourself, it’s likely

you’ll continue to love what you do.

Repeat.

Repeat.

Repeat.

***

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About the Author

Jennifer Abcug, LCSW, is a licensed psychotherapist in New York City, where she

specializes in women’s life transitions.

11/9/23, 10:08 PMRecognizing Compassion Fatigue in the Helping Professions – Idealist

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