Compassion fatigue is characterized by deep emotional and physical exhaustion and by a shift in a helping professional’s sense of hope and optimism about the future and the value of their work. It has been called “a disorder that affects those who do their work well” (Figley 1995). The level of compassion fatigue a helper experiences can ebb and flow from one day to the next, and even very healthy helpers with optimal life/work balance and self care strategies can experience a higher than normal level of compassion fatigue when they are overloaded, are working with a lot of traumatic content, or find their case load suddenly heavy with clients who are all chronically in crisis.

Compassion fatigue is a normal consequence of working in the helping field. The best strategy to address compassion fatigue is to develop excellent self care strategies, as well as an early warning system that lets the helper know that they are moving into the caution zone of Compassion Fatigue. This is a highly interactive one day workshop, incorporating a combination of solo, small group and whole group activities.

Biography

Françoise is a certified mental health counsellor and compassion fatigue specialist. Her experience stems from many years (15+) as a crisis counsellor, working in a hospital emergency ward, university counselling service and community mental health environments. Françoise is director of WHPWorkshops for the Helping Professions whose aim is to offer counselling, consulting and training to helpers on topics related to self-care, wellness, and burnout and compassion fatigue. Since 2001, Françoise has given hundreds of seminars on compassion fatigue and self care across Canada to thousands of helping professionals in the health care fields.

Based in Kingston, Ontario, Françoise also runs a successful private practice with individuals and couples. Many of her clients are military personnel and helping professionals. Françoise is an engaging and dynamic speaker who sprinkles her programs with humour and offers evidence-based solutions to helpers seeking validation and new strategies to remain healthy while working in this challenging and rewarding field. Her positive outlook and commitment to helping clients excel are hallmarks of her work. Françoise is fluently bilingual in English and French and can present in either language.