Compassion fatigue

Abstract

This paper addresses the issue of compassion fatigue as a symptom of the stress and strain induced upon individuals working with the field of social services. The purpose of this paper is to make individuals aware of the issue of compassion fatigue and its' implications upon workers in this field and related helping fields. Among the literature presented, job-burnout, countertransference, secondary traumatic stress disorder and vicarious traumatization are defined as issues relating to and synonymous with compassion fatigue. It has been found, through the literature and research available, that individuals working within the helping field can prevent the occurrence of such issues with appropriate self-care methods and by simply being aware of the symptoms involved with these issues.