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Welcome!

Introduction

The Compassion Fatigue Resilience (CFR) Project was created by Kerry A. Schwanz, Ph.D. as an avenue to spread awareness about compassion fatigue and to share research and resources for prevention and building compassion fatigue resilience.

This Website is currently under construction, keep checking back for updates.

Self-Care Behaviors and Beliefs Scale (SCBBS)
Pilot Version 2023

We are in the final stages of instrument development (January 2024) and hope to have a final version of the SCBBS completed this year. In the meantime, we have our 44 item pilot version of the scale available for research purposes upon request.

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         Please contact us at: cfrprojectsoar@gmail.com for more information.

What is Compassion Fatigue?

  • Different conceptualizations and definitions of compassion fatigue can be found in the literature but the common components refer to helpers experiencing stress from helping/caring for others who are under stress or who have experienced some sort of trauma.

  • Compassion fatigue subsumes burnout and secondary traumatization. According to Figley (1995, 2002) compassion fatigue can occur when a helper or caregiver repeatedly engages empathetically with clients and “takes on” some of their suffering.

  • When people neglect their own self-care to attend to the needs of others, it may result in a high cost to the caregiver.

  • Compassion satisfaction on the other hand, refers to the positive feelings and experiences that people derive from helping others (Stamm, 2005).

  • Compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction have predominantly been studied in professionals such as nurses, doctors, mental health professionals, veterinarians, emergency responders and others, who work with patients/clients who are in distress.

Some Signs/Symptoms of CF

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  • Physical & emotional exhaustion

  • Depression and/or hopelessness

  • Nervous system arousal

  • Anxiety, Sleep problems

  • Bottled-up emotions

  • Isolation and loss of morale

  • Diminished sense of career/job enjoyment

  • Increases in mistakes

  • Substance over use and abuse

  • Poor relationships with co-workers

  • Avoidance of clients

  • Physical ailments

  • Intrusive thoughts/nightmares

  • Lowered frustration tolerance

  • Increased outbursts of anger

  • Feeling overwhelmed

  • Depleted as a helper

Winter

Please explore our site to learn more!!

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