When Caring Hurts: Recognizing and Preventing Compassion Fatigue

An exhausted woman with her head in her hands seated at a table

I came across an important article on the American Psychological Association (APA) website today that I wanted to share with my fellow clinicians. It explores the growing recognition of compassion fatigue—the emotional, physical, and psychological toll that helping professionals can experience when working with trauma survivors over time. Here is a quick summary of the article (the link for the full article is included at the end).

The article begins with psychologist Marla Vannucci, PhD, who first noticed symptoms such as nightmares, migraines, and social withdrawal early in her career while working in an intensive trauma unit with veterans. She later realized she was struggling with compassion fatigue, a concept developed by Charles Figley, PhD, to describe how clinicians may vicariously experience trauma through their patients. Symptoms can include headaches, irritability, mood swings, fatigue, and even a loss of professional purpose.

Experts like Kerry Schwanz, PhD emphasize that clinicians often misinterpret these reactions as weakness. Left unaddressed, compassion fatigue can cause providers to question their abilities or even leave the profession. The encouraging news is that awareness, reflection, and structured support can make a meaningful difference.

The article highlights several strategies that can protect clinicians:

Reframing beliefs about self-care: Therapists who feel guilty for taking time for themselves are more likely to experience stress. Challenging these beliefs and practicing guilt-free self-care is essential.
Peer supervision and group consultation: Vannucci and her Chicago practice use regular group meetings to process difficult cases and support one another. Other clinicians, such as Tai Mendenhall, PhD, also rely on daily team huddles to share the emotional load.
Applying therapy tools for self-care: Esther Deblinger, PhD, developed the PRACTICE course, teaching clinicians to use trauma-focused CBT techniques on themselves—such as relaxation and relationship-building—leading to measurable reductions in burnout.
Cultivating compassion satisfaction: Focusing on the meaning and fulfillment of the work can counterbalance exhaustion. Therapists like Brittany Trauthwein, PsyD emphasize that connecting with the rewards of clinical work can restore energy and purpose.

Ultimately, the article reminds us that compassion fatigue is not a sign of weakness but a natural consequence of caring deeply for people in pain. Though we might feel very alone and guilty about struggling with such difficult (and often unanticipated) feelings, it is important that we not shy away from acknowledging the reality of this painful occupational hazard. By naming it, reflecting on our experiences, supporting each other, and fostering self-care without guilt, clinicians can sustain their work and even rediscover the satisfaction that first drew them to the field.

Here is the link for the full APA article https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/compassion-fatigue

Readings (from the original APA article)

Building compassion fatigue resilience: Awareness, prevention, and intervention for pre-professionals and current practitioners
Paiva-Salisbury, M.L., & Schwanz, K.A., Journal of Health Service Psychology , 2022

Harmony by design: Navigating work and life in healthcare
M. Weinstein, S. M., et al., Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, 2025

An innovative approach to addressing compassion fatigue: A feasibility study of a serious game
Esbjørn, B. H., et al., Simulation & Gaming , 2025

Photo of Patricia C. Baldwin Co-Founder of Note Designer Inc.

Patricia C. Baldwin Ph.D

Clinical Psychologist

President

Note Designer Inc.

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