The effects of compassion fatigue

Dr. Charles Figley, Director of the Tulane Traumatology Institute defines compassion fatigue as “a state experienced by those helping people or animals in distress; it is an extreme state of tension and preoccupation with the suffering of those being helped to the degree that it can create a secondary traumatic stress for the helper.”

Reflect upon what you do now, if anything, to offset the effects of compassion fatigue.

Create a chart in which you document taking ten minutes a day to care for yourself as referenced in the Ted talk. Include each day that you “took ten” that week, with the goal being every day. Record when you took the ten minutes and what you did in that frame of time to take care of yourself.

End of the week reflection: what was the experience of taking ten minutes a day like for you? Was it easy or difficult? Why? How did you select the “take 10” activities that you did? Do you feel the practice was beneficial? How so? Will you continue taking this time each day? 1 page in length.

Resources for Assessment: