Compassion Fatigue presentation by Shayne Julius for the Workplace Section of the Interagency ADR Working Group.

1. FIRST, DO NO HARM
,
(TO YOURSELF):
MITIGATING COMPASSION FATIGUE
FOR THE WORKPLACE ADR PROFESSIONAL
Presented By:
Shayne Julius
y
Sept. 5, 2012
1660 L Street, NW, Suite 501, Washington, DC 20036
202‐296‐2328 www.adrvantage.com

2. What is Compassion Fatigue?
What is Compassion Fatigue?
Compassion Fatigue is a natural consequence
Compassion Fatigue is a natural consequence
of stress resulting from caring and helping
traumatized or suffering people…. These
traumatized or suffering people These
outwards signs are displays of stress resulting
from giving care to others. Compassion fatigue
from giving care to others Compassion fatigue
is a secondary traumatic stress disorder. It is a
set of symptoms, not a disease.
set of symptoms not a disease
‐ Charles Figley (1995)

3. Why are Workplace ADR
Professionals Vulnerable?
f l l bl
• Ongoing and repeated exposure to others’
Ongoing and repeated exposure to others
conflicts
• Guiding principles of ADR practice provide
Guiding principles of ADR practice provide
false sense of invulnerability
• E bli hi
Establishing connection with the parties in
i ih h i i
conflict is key to a successful intervention
• “Self‐care blind spot”

4. Compassion Fatigue Trajectory
Compassion Fatigue Trajectory
• Committed and involved
Committed and involved
Idealistic •
•
Ready to serve and make a difference
Willing to go above and beyond
• Full of energy and enthusiasm
Full of energy and enthusiasm
• Cuts corners, loss of concentration, increase in
oversights and mistakes
Irritable • Avoids contact with parties in conflict
Avoids contact with parties in conflict
• Mocks others and uses inappropriate humor
• Distances oneself from colleagues and friends

5. Compassion Fatigue Trajectory cont.
Compassion Fatigue Trajectory cont.
• Loses patience with parties in conflict – their issues
become irritants
Withdrawn • Neglects self and others and is chronically fatigued
• Loses hope and isolates oneself
•BBecomes defensive and may view oneself as a victim
d f i d i lf i ti
• Views others as incompetent or ignorant
• Develops a disdain for parties in conflict
Zombie • Dislikes others and becomes easily enraged
• Loses patience, sense of humor, and zest for life

6. Symptoms of Compassion
Fatigue in the Individual
h d d l
• Emotional outbursts
Emotional outbursts • Excessive complaining
Excessive complaining
• Lack of boundaries • Lack of interest in self‐
• Avoidance of others
Avoidance of others care
• Loss of sense of humor • Recurring nightmares,
• Loss of purpose flashbacks
• Difficulty in • Persistent physical
concentration ailments
• Feelings of inadequacy • Accident prone

7. Symptoms of Compassion
Fatigue in an Organization
• Excessive Worker’s
Excessive Worker s • Aggressive behavior
Aggressive behavior
Comp Claims • Inability to complete
• High absenteeism
High absenteeism assigned tasks
assigned tasks
• “Us” vs. “them” co‐ • Lack of flexibility
worker relationships
worker relationships • C t t li
Constant policy
• Dysfunctional teams changes
• I
Ignoring organization
i i ti • R
Rumors & gossip
& i
rules & regulations • Unhealthy competition

8. Causes of
Compassion Fatigue
• Putting needs of others before yours
Putting needs of others before yours
• Unresolved trauma/pain
• Lacking of healthy coping skills
ki fh l h i kill
• Lack of self‐awareness
• Giving care to others under stress or burnout
• Lack of personal boundaries
Lack of personal boundaries
• Inability to communicate needs

9. The ADR of Self Care
The ADR of Self‐Care
• Awareness
• Deliberate Action
Deliberate Action
• Revisit Often
Revisit Often

10. The ADR of Self Care
The ADR of Self‐Care
• Awareness
– Accept that the work we do makes us vulnerable
– Acquire more information about compassion
Acquire more information about compassion
fatigue and effective self‐care practices
– Assess your current level of and vulnerability to
Assess your current level of and vulnerability to
compassion fatigue
– Acknowledge your needs and limits
Acknowledge your needs and limits

11. Assessment Tool:
Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL)
P f i l Q li f Lif S l (P QOL)
© Beth Hudnall Stamm, 2009. www.ProQOL.org

12. The ADR of Self Care
The ADR of Self‐Care
• Deliberate Action
e be ate ct o
– Develop a self‐care plan
– Decompress after difficult situations
– Define your boundaries to promote balance
– Develop healthy coping strategies and engage in
activities that bring you joy/are a source of renewal
activities that bring you joy/are a source of renewal
– Don’t wait to think about self‐care until you’re in dire
circumstances
– Develop a strong support network
– Declare your self‐care goals to your support network

13. Components of a Self Care Plan
Components of a Self‐Care Plan
• Identify areas where you want to maintain or improve
y y p
self‐care in each of six areas – cognitive, emotional,
behavioral, spiritual, interpersonal and physical
• S t SMART
Set SMART goals – S ifi M
l Specific, Measurable, Attainable,
bl Att i bl
Realistic and Time‐Based – and write them down
• Identify resources available to accomplish goals
Identify resources available to accomplish goals
• Identify specific people to support you in
accomplishing your goals
• Don’t overwhelm yourself – prioritize the top three and
revisit the plan at regular intervals

14. The ADR of Self Care
The ADR of Self‐Care
• Revisit often
Revisit often
– Renew your commitment to self‐care on a regular
basis by setting aside time to take stock
– Reassess self‐care as circumstances change or new
priorities are identified
– Recognize your triggers/emerging symptoms and
/
act immediately
– Reach out to your colleagues to talk about issues
Reach out to your colleagues to talk about issues
of self‐care and make it a priority in the ADR
profession

15. Remember…
• You are human
You are human
• You can’t solve every problem/resolve every
conflict
• Parties in conflict are best served by a
practitioner that actively engages in self‐care
ii h i l i lf

16. Resources
BOOKS:
Figley, Charles R. (1995) Compassion Fatigue: coping with Traumatic Stress Disorder in
Figley Charles R (1995) Compassion Fatigue coping with Traumatic Stress Disorder in
Those who Treat the Traumatized. New York: Brunner‐Routledge.
Figley, Charles R. (2002) Treating Compassion Fatigue. New York: Brunner‐Routledge.
Mathieu, F. (2008) The Compassion Fatigue Workbook, Kingston: WHP.
ARTICLES:
Figley (2007), Charles R. The Art and Science of Caring for Others without Forgetting
Self‐Care. http://www.giftfromwithin.org/html/artscien.html
Panos, Angelea. Understanding and Preventing Compassion Fatigue ‐ A H d t F
P A l U d t di dP ti C i F ti A Handout For
Professionals. http://www.giftfromwithin.org/html/prvntcf.html
Siebert, Al. The Five Levels of Resiliency.
http://www.resiliencycenter.com/articles/5levels.shtml

17. Resources cont.
Resources cont.
WEBSITES:
Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project (http://www.compassionfatigue.org/)
The Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project© is dedicated to educating caregivers
about authentic, sustainable self‐care and aiding organizations in their goal of
providing healthy, compassionate care to those whom they serve.
Green Cross Academy of Traumatology (www.greencross.org)
An international, humanitarian assistance organization, non profit corporation
An international, humanitarian assistance organization, non‐profit corporation
comprised of trained traumatologists and compassion fatigue service providers. Most
are licensed mental health professionals, all are oriented to helping people in crisis
following traumatic events.
Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) Scale (http://www.proqol.org/)
The ProQOL is the most commonly used measure of the negative and positive affects
of helping others who experience suffering and trauma. The ProQOL has sub‐scales for
compassion satisfaction, burnout and compassion fatigue.
i if i b d i f i

18. Thank You For Coming!!
Thank You For Coming!!
Want more information?
Shayne Julius
ADR Vantage, Inc.
ADR Vantage Inc
1660 L Street, NW, Suite 501
Washington, DC 20036
g
202‐296‐2328
sjulius@adrvantage.com