Facilitator: Shayne Julius (click here for bio)
Program Description: Compassion Fatigue, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress are occupational hazards of the helping professions – educators, health care professionals, legal and law enforcement professionals and clergy to name a few – that are a result of the stress that comes from helping traumatized or suffering people. Data collected over the past 15 years on the helping professions is showing a consistent presence of compassion fatigue and symptoms of trauma, which can significantly lower the efficacy of the individual professionals as well as the organizations for which they work.
Because the workplace environment can profoundly impact an individual’s vulnerability to these occupational hazards, OD practitioners can be instrumental in working with an organization to create a healthy work environment that supports stress relief, stress reduction and stress resiliency.
Participants in this interactive session will learn symptoms of compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma in both the individual and organization, receive an introduction to the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) assessment tool and discuss organizational interventions and support that promote a healthy workplace.