Beyond Compassion Fatigue: Find Your Rhythm
If you work in animal sheltering, rescue, veterinary medicine, dog training, or behavior consulting, you know this work is incredibly rewarding—but it can also be emotionally exhausting.
I recently had the privilege of joining Jennifer Blough, author and host of the Beyond Compassion Fatigue podcast, to talk about a topic that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: the emotional cost of caring for others.
Compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and grief are common in helping professions. We spend our days supporting animals and the people who love them, often witnessing fear, neglect, trauma, and loss. Even when we aren’t experiencing the trauma ourselves, simply witnessing it can affect our emotional well-being.
One of the things I have learned over more than 30 years of working with animals is that we can learn a great deal from them.
When animals experience stress, they move. They shake it off, run, stretch, sniff, play, or simply change their environment. Their bodies are designed to release stress through movement.
I’ve often joked that I’m a lot like a dog because movement has become one of my most important forms of self-care. Whether it’s taking a walk, exercising, or simply getting outside, movement helps me process the emotional weight that can come with this work.
During our conversation, we discuss:
- Recognizing the early signs of compassion fatigue
- What animals can teach us about managing stress
- The impact of secondary trauma
- Why “balance” isn’t always the goal
- How scheduling self-care—not just hoping it happens—is essential
- Lessons I’ve learned from a lifetime of helping dogs and the people who love them
One of the biggest takeaways from our conversation is this:
We cannot pour from an empty cup.
Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish—it allows you to continue showing up for the animals, your clients, your coworkers, your family, and yourself.
If you’ve ever felt emotionally drained by this work, I hope you’ll take some time to listen. My wish is that you’ll come away feeling understood, encouraged, and reminded that caring for yourself is part of caring for others.
Listen to Episode 60
You can listen here:
- YouTube: https://youtu.be/BCnfz0kCJ3A?si=D8bpEaYOSdaeNMxt
- Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-qf2ar-1ad8282
Or search for Beyond Compassion Fatigue in your favorite podcast app and look for Episode 60.
Thank You, Jennifer – A heartfelt thank you to Jennifer Blough—not only for inviting me onto the podcast but for the incredible work she does supporting animal care professionals. Through her podcast, books, workbooks, and educational resources, she provides practical tools and encouragement for those of us working in one of the most meaningful—and emotionally demanding—professions.
If you work with animals, I highly recommend exploring her resources. Her newest book is also available for preorder on Amazon.