Known as the “cost of caring,” compassion fatigue is a natural consequence inherent in many helping professions, such as animal welfare workers, law enforcement, firefighters, therapists, health care workers, and all others in helping or caregiving roles. Jennifer Blough is highly trained in treating compassion fatigue and through counseling, she will encourage you to talk openly about your own personal experiences and struggles and together you’ll explore healthy coping skills that can help to improve self-care and prevent burnout.

Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue

• Depression or feeling sad
• Insomnia (trouble falling or staying asleep)
• Frequent nightmares or flashbacks
• Fatigue or low energy
• Anger or irritability
• Grief
• Withdrawing from others
• Feeling of isolation
• Loss of appetite or overeating
• Loss of interest in things
• Lack of motivation
• Relationship conflicts (personal and/or professional)
• Feelings of guilt
• Feelings of emptiness
• Anxiety
• Low self-esteem
• Feeling numb or apathetic
• Work problems (often late, lots of sick days, etc.)
• Poor concentration
• Bodily complaints such as headaches or sore muscles
• Intrusive thoughts
• Feeling hopeless
• Unhelpful coping skills, such as substance abuse
• Negative worldview or outlook on life
• Suicidal thoughts

Workshop

Combatting Compassion Fatigue:
A Self-Care Workshop for Animal Care Professionals

Those of us who work with or care for animals have likely witnessed, heard about, or experienced traumatic situations — from euthanasia to animal abuse to pet overpopulation. Chronic exposure to these stressors can take a heavy toll on our personal lives, our relationships, and our job performance. It can affect us mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, leading to what’s called compassion fatigue, or “the cost of caring.”

What if there was a way to help your staff combat compassion fatigue and build resilience? This unique training allows your employees and/or volunteers to gain valuable tools to help them manage compassion fatigue, which in turn can lead to improved work performance, less sick days, decreased turnover, and ultimately, better care of the animals.

This interactive self-care workshop is geared toward all animal professionals, including shelter staff, animal control officers, veterinarians, vet techs, euthanasia techs, rescue workers, volunteers, foster parents, wildlife rehabilitators, management, support staff, and all others involved in animal welfare.

We’ll explore topics such as:

• Defining compassion fatigue, burnout, and secondary trauma
• Knowing the warning signs — could you be at risk?
• Learning how to prevent, manage, and overcome compassion fatigue
• Developing stress management and self-care skills
• Turning compassion fatigue into compassion satisfaction

*This workshop can be held at your facility or at my office, which can accommodate up to six participants.

*The workshop lasts approximately one-and-a-half to two hours, depending on audience size and participation.

*The cost of the workshop is $30 per person within the Metro Detroit area. For travel outside of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, or Washtenaw counties, a $25 travel fee will be added. Please call 734-203-0183 for out-of-state pricing.

Past & Current Clients Include:

Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit
Detroit Animal Control
Jackson County Animal Shelter
Kimball Animal Hospital
Livingston County Animal Control & Shelter
Paws For Life Rescue
National Animal Care & Control Association
Fairbanks North Star Borough Animal Control
Michigan Anti-Cruelty Society
Macomb County Animal Shelter

Testimonials:

“Jennifer had very good suggestions and was very helpful, personable, and honest!”
-LouAnn, Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit

Book

Purchase Now from Amazon.com

To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Community

So, what is compassion fatigue anyway?

Compassion fatigue has been described by traumatologist Charles Figley (1982) as the “cost of caring” for others in emotional pain. He adds that “the display of symptoms is the natural consequence of stress resulting from caring and helping traumatized or suffering people or animals” (Figley, 1995).

To Save a Starfish is a self-care workbook designed to help you recognize the symptoms and warning signs of compassion fatigue and burnout. You’ll discover practical and proven strategies to reduce anxiety, control anger, ward off depression, manage stress, and improve your overall well-being. Not only will you learn techniques on how to conquer compassion fatigue, but also how to cultivate compassion satisfaction – the key to staying strong, healthy, and energized so that you can to continue to fight for those who don’t have a voice.

Who is this book for?

Shelter staff, animal control officers, veterinarians, vet techs, euthanasia techs, rescue workers, foster parents, management, support staff, wildlife rehabilitators, volunteers, animal advocates, ethical vegetarians and vegans, animal rights activists, animal attorneys, and anyone else involved with the care and protection of animals.

Purchase Now from Amazon.com

Podcast

Coming Soon!