Compassion Fatigue/Resilience Building and Mindfulness
Overview: Navigating the healing professions and meeting the various needs of patients/clients/residents/students can be extremely rewarding but can also have its own set of challenges called the cost of caring for others, from the work environment itself, to lack of resources to support the populations served and even risk of physical assault.
Learning and understanding the physiology of stress, engaging in practices to build resilience and having an awareness of the nature of secondary trauma as the cost of caring for others is important if we are to truly be of service and have integrity in how we are doing our work.
Developing a deep sense of awareness of the impact and nature of trauma and the response of the central nervous system to trauma and how to find healthy ways to discharge the nervous system is essential for ourselves and the people we serve in various capacities.
We can develop discipline and commit to simple practices to care for ourselves while caring for others that can enhance our own potential to work for change that honors the dignity and worth of those we serve and is grounded in ethics and integrity.
Compassion Fatigue Workshop
The suggested price for this two hour workshop is $500, but no one will be turned away from this workshop. Payment will be accepted on a sliding scale.
Goal: Participants acknowledge the effects of witnessing suffering and explore a new way of navigating that introduces a 5-step process with hands on tools for self regulation and invites the possibility for personal and professional transformation.
During this 3 hour workshop participants will:
- Gain an understanding of the physiology of stress as differentiated from trauma and the physiology of compassion.
- Practice resilience building as a reset to interruptions and learn about the domains of resilience and the relationship to neuroplasticity of the brain and heart rate variability.
- Define compassionate care as inter relational
- Identify the signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue.
- Examine the relationship between caring for self and ability to care for others.
- Engage in hands on practice of 5 step process that includes movement and recognizing signs of tension in the body.
- Identify strategies and practices for personal well being rooted in mindfulness.
- Rachel has offered this training to many in the helping professions including Q Shelter in Queensland, Australia, Music for Healing and Transition Program in San Jose, CA, Blackburn Center in Greensburg, Pa, Community Action Blair County, The Greater Johnstown School District and more.
Please contact her to schedule this for your organization.
Materials needed:
- Space with room that allows for gentle movement and no interruptions.
- Chairs with preferably no tables although round tables work well with this presentation.
- Notebooks and pens
Rachel has a strong passion for serving caregivers in healthcare, human services, and other backgrounds experiencing compassion fatigue and working with marginalized populations. She has experience working in conjunction with non-profits providing healing arts programs to adults with mental illness, at risk youth and facilitates, and trauma informed yoga and expressive healing arts programs with a trauma therapist for women survivors of rape and sexual abuse. She teaches compassion fatigue workshops and trainings to those committed to service in healthcare, behavioral health, caregivers and environmental non profits
- Kelly WarshelMD Holistic PhysicianI have been to many lectures on compassionate care throughout the country and I can honestly say that Rachel’s Compassion Fatigue workshop was one of the best! It was practical and focused on the importance of self-care, which is exceedingly important in healthcare to prevent caregiver burnout. It was both interactive and experiential and I personally think it should be offered to our entire hospital staff on an ongoing basis.
- Sue Smith PDO Development ManagerRachel Allen…did an outstanding job and overwhelmingly the presentation was well received and appreciated. She has a way of connecting to the audience in a short period of time and providing a meaningful experience. One of the participants said, “this program has changed my way to approach my responsibilities and look at things differently. Great workshop.” I would highly recommend Rachel for any opportunity to teach Compassion Fatigue.
- Paula Eppley-Newman Executive DirectorAs a non-profit service provider in the community working with the abuse and neglect of children, having someone like Rachel Allen whose compassion and depth of understanding of what service providers in this type of situation deal with on a daily basis, is like rain on dry soil. We soak up her healing love while she helps us to survive in the dry, barren land of child abuse.