Nourishing the Healer's Flame: An Integral Life Practice for the Prevention of Compassion Fatigue and Burnout
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Authors
Hunt, Catherine
Issue Date
2009
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
New findings are demonstrating that professionals who feel the most empathy for their patients and who feel an incredible sense of duty to cure and heal others may be more susceptible to experiencing compassion fatigue and burnout. How could these characteristics, which seem positive and beneficial for the patient, lead to the suffering of the professional? In addition, why is it that those working within the healthcare professions have some of the poorest health and rely heavily on harmful coping techniques? These issues and more are addressed within this paper, including the investigation of external and internal pressures faced by many healthcare professionals and the effects our current paradigm has on how we view healing and, subsequently, the role of the healer. I argue for including a preventative model for compassion fatigue and burnout so that professionals learn to nourish their gift of service and healing through continually nourishing themselves and their deeper needs.