As professionals, we are often drawn to this work because we love humans and have a strong desire to support and to serve. With this good intention at heart, we sometimes find ourselves in over our heads, struggling to hold emotional boundaries. Commonly referred to as “compassion fatigue” what happens when the stress of working in the midst of others’ stress and trauma begins to impact our own mental health? This workshop helps professionals learn the causes and effects of compassion fatigue and secondary trauma, and offers coping strategies, warning signs and action plans to help minimize compassion fatigue. The workshop will help professionals personally answer the question: How do we balance our ability to empathize and be compassionate with others with our need to protect and sustain ourselves as professionals? In understanding compassion fatigue, we can also think about ways we might apply that knowledge in creating programming for campers and staff.
Learning Objectives:
- Know: Professionals will be able to define and understand compassion fatigue and secondary trauma, the symptoms associated with it, and their personal and professional trigger points
- Do: Professionals will build skills to support students while maintaining healthy emotional boundaries
- Feel: Professionals will feel empowered to say no and ready to ask for support when they need it.