Compassion fatigue is the emotional drain experienced by caregivers of both people and animals. In this invaluable workbook, counselor and animal-welfare expert Jennifer A. Blough focuses on people who work with animals-and who often don't get the help they need.
Through personal stories and exercises, Jennifer assists readers in overcoming care-related issues and regaining a positive psyche.
In this workbook, you will learn the symptoms of compassion fatigue and the risk factors for developing it, and you will understand the human-animal relationship. You will discover how to practice mindfulness, meditate, and use progressive muscle relaxation techniques and massage therapy to calm the mind and body. The book will also help you to tweak your thought processes and communicate in a healthy way, while creating limits. You'll even receive tips on using nutrition, physical activity, and rest to help combat compassion fatigue. If you need counseling or group support, the book will guide you in the right direction.
After completing the exercises and following Jennifer's expert advice, you will feel recharged and ready to return to helping animals in need.
About the Author: Jennifer A. Blough, MA, LLPC, is a certified compassion fatigue specialist and a pet loss grief recovery specialist who counsels individuals and groups on animal welfare topics. She also offers workshops and retreats for professionals and volunteers in animal-related fields. She owns Deepwater Counseling in southeast Michigan.
Visit deepwatermichigan.com to sign up for Jennifer's e-newsletter and to find more resources for handling compassion fatigue. You can reach her directly at jennifer@deepwatermichigan.com.
Jennifer lives with her husband, three dogs, two rabbits, two mice, and one parrot.
