Compassion Fatigue Across Professional Development: A Systematic Literature Review of Psychologists and Counsellors-in-Training
Compassion Fatigue Across Professional Development: A Systematic Literature Review of Psychologists and Counsellors-in-Training
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Issue Date
2025-12
Authors
Sochan, Daniel
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Abstract
Compassion fatigue (CF) is a well-documented occupational hazard within psychotherapy and counselling, yet significant gaps remain regarding how CF develops and is experienced at different stages of professional growth. This systematic literature review examines how compassion fatigue manifests among psychologists and counsellors-in-training (CITs), integrating Burnout Theory as the primary conceptual framework alongside secondary perspectives from Vicarious Trauma Theory and Self-Compassion Theory. A structured search of PsycINFO, PubMed, Google Scholar, and the City University Library identified peer-reviewed literature published between 2010 and 2025, resulting in approximately 50 studies that met inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis revealed five major patterns: (1) conceptual overlaps among CF, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and vicarious trauma; (2) heightened developmental vulnerabilities in trainees related to emotional regulation, empathic over-identification, fragile professional identity, and supervision inconsistencies; (3) protective factors such as self-compassion, mindfulness, reflective supervision, and compassion satisfaction; (4) comparative differences between trainees and experienced psychologists in boundary setting, resilience, and coping strategies; and (5) persisting methodological and conceptual gaps in the existing literature. Findings indicate that CF is a dynamic, developmentally shaped process influenced by individual, relational, and systemic factors. Implications emphasize the ethical importance of early intervention within training programs, as well as the need for trauma-informed supervision, wellness-based curricula, and institutional policies that support sustainable clinical practice.
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Keywords
compassion fatigue , counsellor in training , experienced psychologist , empathy , burnout theory , student , supervision , self-compassion , resilience , vicarious trauma , professional development