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Topics that will be coveredTopics that will be covered
• The Care Service Provider’s vulnerability to 2ndary The Care Service Provider’s vulnerability to 2ndary or vicarious trauma.or vicarious trauma.• Factors that cause CF/VT and burnoutFactors that cause CF/VT and burnout• How to become resilient in the face of overwhelming How to become resilient in the face of overwhelming
and emotionally intense demands.and emotionally intense demands.• New ways to care for ourselves.New ways to care for ourselves.• New ways to support co-workers and increase moraleNew ways to support co-workers and increase morale• Being accountable to someone who will support you Being accountable to someone who will support you
and help you say “no”and help you say “no”• Planned intentional strategies for “self care”.Planned intentional strategies for “self care”.
What is Compassion Fatigue ?What is Compassion Fatigue ?AKA Vicarious or secondary TraumaAKA Vicarious or secondary Trauma • Compassion Fatigue is a syndrome which Compassion Fatigue is a syndrome which
consists of various symptoms that mirror Post consists of various symptoms that mirror Post Trauma Stress Disorder (PTSD).Trauma Stress Disorder (PTSD).
• PTSD is a disorder that affects people who PTSD is a disorder that affects people who have experienced extreme traumatic or violent have experienced extreme traumatic or violent events in their lives. People who have events in their lives. People who have experienced natural or man made disasters; experienced natural or man made disasters; victims of violent crimes, domestic violence, victims of violent crimes, domestic violence, child sexual or physical abuse.child sexual or physical abuse.
What is Compassion Fatigue ?What is Compassion Fatigue ?AKA Vicarious or secondary TraumaAKA Vicarious or secondary Trauma
• People who develop the disorder similarly People who develop the disorder similarly report episodes of fear, depression, confusion, report episodes of fear, depression, confusion, helplessness, hopelessness, feeling out of helplessness, hopelessness, feeling out of control, extreme mood swings, avoidance control, extreme mood swings, avoidance behaviors, etc.behaviors, etc.
• People who develop Compassion Fatigue have People who develop Compassion Fatigue have not been direct victims of trauma, but have not been direct victims of trauma, but have intense involvement with people who have.intense involvement with people who have.
Who can get Compassion Fatigue?Who can get Compassion Fatigue?
• People who provide care, assistance and support to People who provide care, assistance and support to others in pain, either physical or emotional, tend to be others in pain, either physical or emotional, tend to be empathetic and compassionate. These necessary empathetic and compassionate. These necessary qualities that help them to do their jobs, place them in qualities that help them to do their jobs, place them in the direct path of experiencing secondary and vicarious the direct path of experiencing secondary and vicarious trauma AKA compassion fatigue reactions. trauma AKA compassion fatigue reactions.
• Many helping professionals and caretakers as a result Many helping professionals and caretakers as a result of listening to stories or witnessing the aftermath of of listening to stories or witnessing the aftermath of traumatic events could develop many of the same traumatic events could develop many of the same symptoms associated with Post-Trauma Stress symptoms associated with Post-Trauma Stress Disorder including symptoms that are Disorder including symptoms that are more insidiousmore insidious..
• Stems from overwhelming demands of tasks.Stems from overwhelming demands of tasks.• Does not come close to the impact of vicarious Does not come close to the impact of vicarious
traumatrauma• The distinction is the sympathy/empathy The distinction is the sympathy/empathy
caregivers experience from the suffering of caregivers experience from the suffering of others.others.
• Where children are concerned, this is often Where children are concerned, this is often outside of the realm of what we expect as caring outside of the realm of what we expect as caring human beingshuman beings
• Burnout has a better prognosis for recovery.Burnout has a better prognosis for recovery.• Beware the combination of both CF and Burn outBeware the combination of both CF and Burn out.
Causes and Triggers of Causes and Triggers of Compassion FatigueCompassion Fatigue
• Working with adults and particularly children who are Working with adults and particularly children who are victims of trauma or violence.victims of trauma or violence.
• Lack of training in dealing with issues of trauma or Lack of training in dealing with issues of trauma or violence and it‘s subsequent outcomes.violence and it‘s subsequent outcomes.
• High ideals of making a difference in the lives of children High ideals of making a difference in the lives of children and adults. and adults.
• Personality traits of compassion and empathy.Personality traits of compassion and empathy.• Past histories of trauma or victimization in the worker.Past histories of trauma or victimization in the worker.• Lack of consistent self-care behaviors and habits.Lack of consistent self-care behaviors and habits.• Working with large numbers of traumatized and/or Working with large numbers of traumatized and/or
If trauma is not quickly “integrated “ and the changes in the anatomy, biology and neurology become chronic, it makes people more vulnerable to such events in the future. The body loses its natural rhythms for regulating arousal and relaxation; entering a seesaw between hyper arousal and hypo arousal; moving the person from explosive emotions to numbness fatigue, detachment and isolation…….
• Let’s share in a discussion to anchor your understanding
Seek/Ask for help when you:Seek/Ask for help when you:
• Have difficulty separating work from your Have difficulty separating work from your personal life. [VT?]personal life. [VT?]
• Dread working with certain individuals.Dread working with certain individuals.• See the world in terms of victims and See the world in terms of victims and
perpetrators.perpetrators.• Experience increased transference and counter Experience increased transference and counter
transference issues with certain individuals.transference issues with certain individuals.• Struggle with acute or chronic sadness.Struggle with acute or chronic sadness.
TEAM STRESS FEUDTEAM STRESS FEUDIdentify the Impact-Symptom Identify the Impact-Symptom
1. Poor concentration ______________________ 2. Preoccupation with trauma ______________________3. Overly sensitive ______________________ 4. Accident proneness ______________________ 5. Questioning the meaning of life ____________________6. Increased interpersonal conflicts ___________________7. Sweating ____________________
8. Chronic and intensifying physical illness _____________9. Perfectionism _____________________10.Losing things ______________________11.Mistrust ______________________12.Loss of faith ______________________
Plan and develop a template to keepList things you will pay attention to during each session.List what you need when you are with the client.List things you will do between sessionsList things you will do at the end of each day or the end of
each evening.List things you will do each week; bi-monthly; monthlyNow discuss these plans with someone(s) you will be