Compassion fatigue is one of the most pervasive and least discussed traumas that nearly every caregiver feels at one time or another. Millions of people choose a helper profession (everything from nurse to lawyer to therapist to veterinarian) because they care deeply and feel called to service. Millions more are thrust into unpaid caregiving roles due to illness, injury, or the natural course of aging.

Nearly everyone in a heart-based role has experienced some sort of compassion fatigue or burnout. And nearly everyone feels guilt and shame for their fatigue. They are caregivers; shouldn't they be unstoppable and invincible?

This book brings together experts from across a wide variety of professions, backgrounds, and cultures to tell their stories of experiencing compassion fatigue and to give practical, useful, actionable advice and solutions on how to build personal resilience, how to avoid compassion fatigue, and how to rekindle your own spirit when compassion fatigue and burnout drag you down into the darkness.

Contributors

Jean Accius, PhD - Chief Executive Officer of a national health equity nonprofit

Faith Albright, DVM - Veterinarian and owner/operator of an animal sanctuary

Larry Brouder - Global employee mobility expert and speaker

Dennis Brozzo, PMP - Executive, leadership, and life coach

Richa Chadha, MBA, MS - Mindset coach, speaker, and organizational psychologist

Peter Dudley, PCC - Leadership and life coach, author, and publisher

Nayely Duran, ACC - Consultant, trainer, and executive leadership coach

Tammy Hurst, RN, MSN, NC-BC - Registered nurse and certified nurse coach

Catherine Krause - Speaker, consultant, and developer of the Empowered Aging framework

Jerrald Krause, PhD - Professor and co-founder of Center for Applied Social Analysis and Education

Antoinette LeCouteur - Unpaid family caregiver and philanthropy advisor and consultant

Jill Louise Léger - Geriatric recreational therapist and creator of The Sunflower Channel on YouTube

Laura Plato, MSc - CEO of The New Frequency and social impact technology executive

Dr. Kenya Oscar Radoli - Technology sociologist, business innovation consultant, and organization culture architect

Sally Spencer-Thomas, PsyD - Clinical psychologist, speaker, and renowned mental health advocate

Margaret Stauffer, MS, LMFT - Licensed marriage and family therapist and retired nonprofit director

Allison K. Wyman, JD, MPA - Family caregiving attorney and creator of the Cozy Caregiver Café podcast