Choose one of the conflicts identified in Step 1 for the focus of your research. Follow the directions as outlined in Steps 1-4. Complete the Conflict Analysis Worksheet and write your Conflict Resolution Proposal following the directions on the worksheet. Combine both into one word processing document to submit.
September 6, 2018explore the connection between human services interviewing and social change. You also will consider how the skills and effective interviewing strategies you have studied in this course might contribute to your role as an agent of social change.
September 6, 2018identify two symptoms of compassion fatigue to which you believe you might be susceptible in your work as a human services professional. Consider what self-care strategies you might employ to prevent compassion fatigue.
Discussion 1: Compassion Fatigue
When you watch a disaster film or read a tragic novel, feelings of fear or anxiety might come over you as you empathize with the characters going through the experience. It is a natural human response to empathize with others and to feel distressed when observing or learning about trauma. When a person is exposed to individuals in distress on an ongoing basis, however, he or she might develop a condition known as compassion fatigue.
Many types of professionals are at risk of suffering compassion fatigue, including police officers, emergency workers, and health care workers. Human services professionals run the risk of developing compassion fatigue because the nature of human services work involves interactions, interviews, and collaboration with interviewees who have experienced trauma, abuse, crises, and other hardships.
In this Discussion, you will consider symptoms of compassion fatigue to which you might be susceptible. Then, you will create a plan for self-care to mitigate your risk of developing compassion fatigue in your work as a human services professional.
To prepare for this Discussion:
- Review the information found in the articles titled “A Study of the Relationship Between Self-Care, Compassion Satisfaction, Compassion Fatigue, and Burnout Among Hospice Professionals,” “The Unbearable Fatigue of Compassion: Notes from a Substance Abuse Counselor who Dreams of Working at Starbuck’s,” and “Contemplative Practices in Human Services Education.” Review the report, Psychological First Aid: Guide for Field Workers. Focus on Chapter 4, “Caring for Yourself and Your Colleagues.”
- After reviewing the information, identify two symptoms of compassion fatigue to which you believe you might be susceptible in your work as a human services professional. Consider what self-care strategies you might employ to prevent compassion fatigue.
With these thoughts in mind:
- Give a description of at least two symptoms of compassion fatigue that you might experience as a result of interviewing individuals in distress. Then, briefly describe two self-care strategies that you might employ to prevent compassion fatigue and explain how and why they might work.