Psst, it's not compassion fatigue...

I’ve got a confession to make about the course I'm bringing back: The name doesn’t totally make sense. 

And yet…I’m still calling it Compassion Fatigue Strategies.

Here’s the story: I know that "compassion fatigue" is being replaced by the term empathic distress, and I understand why. In fact, I’ve been teaching and writing about the difference between empathy and compassion for YEARS. 

Want to know what the difference is? I wrote about it in 2024.

Empathic distress is absolutely a more accurate term, so I could rename the course with that term, but here’s the thing: empathic distress is only one element of what the course addresses. 

There’s a (vegan) smorgasbord of other occupational stressors to navigate: grief, trauma exposure, burnout, moral distress, chronic stress, difficult working conditions, unrealistic expectations, and all the other stuff that piles up when we're doing intense work (in broken systems) for a long time.

So why am I keeping the old name?

Because people still use it.

When someone is struggling with the weight of animal care work, they're much more likely to search for help using the words "compassion fatigue," not "empathic distress."

And, when people reach out to me directly, those are the words they use:

"I have compassion fatigue."

"What do we do about compassion fatigue?"

"I burst into tears when I hear Puff the Magic Dragon. Is this compassion fatigue?"

I’m almost positive that last one’s not related to compassion fatigue, but those lyrics have been taking me out since 1983. Then again, maybe I had empathic distress in kindergarten? 

What I’m trying to say is: I'm not going to make people learn a new vocabulary before they can get help.

I just want to meet them where they are right now, with as few barriers between us as possible. And then we can get down to business. 

That's what I love about teaching this course. We start with the words people already know and then explore what's actually going on.

We look at the stressors you're experiencing, how they're affecting you, what you can change, where you need support, and how to keep doing meaningful work without letting the work consume your life.

We talk about self-care, boundaries, stress management, meaning and purpose, empathic joy, habits, professional support, and the ways our workplaces and relationships affect our experience of the work.

Oh, and if you're completely sick of hearing everything described as compassion fatigue?

I get that, too. I'm not a huge fan of how everything gets labeled compassion fatigue these days, especially when the term is sometimes used to put the burden back on workers.

But please don't let the title put you off.

The title is simply the language that helps people find the course. The course itself is much bigger.

So, that’s the scoop: I don't want to lose people who are using the term “compassion fatigue” to look for help. Which means I'm keeping the name, for now. 

Maybe someday I'll change it to something that’s 100% accurate, like…Human Dumpster Fire Strategies.

All of that is to say: if you come into this course looking for help with compassion fatigue or the stuff that isn’t compassion fatigue, this class is for you. 

Learn more about Compassion Fatigue Strategies (and save $$ with the early bird discount)!