The expectation that we can be immersed in suffering and loss daily and not be touched by it is as unrealistic as expecting to be able to walk through water without getting wet.

—Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen

When a person is in a profession such as Child and Youth Care, in which their job is to act in the best interest of others and to provide care to clients using patience, empathy, and compassion, they run the risk of experiencing what is often referred to as compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, or burnout. These terms all relate to “the risk of emotional and psychological harm for workers engaging in ongoing relationships with people in crisis and/or trauma” (Fox, 2009, p. 273). The three terms are often used interchangeably, and definitions sometimes vary, but the key point is that CYCs need to be aware of this risk so they can be proactive in attempting to prevent it.

Compassion fatigue “is characterized by deep physical and emotional exhaustion and a pronounced change in the helper’s ability to feel empathy for their patients, their loved ones and their co-workers” (Mathieu, 2007, p. 1).  This exhaustion diminishes one’s ability to feel empathy for clients, loved ones, and coworkers. People who are naturally empathetic are at higher risk for developing compassion fatigue because they tend to align with traumatic situations and stories more deeply. You may have heard this described as “having nothing left to give” or “the cost of caring.”

On a related note, Pines and Aronson state that “professional burnout can be defined as a state of physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual exhaustion resulting from chronic exposure to (or practice with) populations that are vulnerable or suffering” (as cited in Newell & MacNeil, 2010, p. 58).  You can see that the definitions have quite a few similarities.

Research identifies three distinct domains to burnout and compassion fatigue: “emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment” (Newell & MacNeil, 2010, p. 59). Emotional exhaustion is the feeling of being physically and mentally drained and often occurs when the CYC’s emotional resources become depleted by the demands and expectations of their work. Depersonalization, or a disconnection from self (feeling hardened or numb), refers to “the negative, cynical, or excessively detached responses to coworkers or clients and their situations” (Newell & MacNeil, 2010, p. 59). A reduced sense of personal accomplishment can be evident in a CYC when they feel inadequate and as though their work is negligible. When experiencing this feeling, there is often an increase in levels of anxiety and depression, and the passion that once was there now seems lost. Compassion fatigue and burnout are often gradual and cumulative in nature, which means healing from the effects often requires a gradual process as well.

Preventing Burnout and Compassion Fatigue

Another term often used in the profession is vicarious trauma or secondary traumatic stress, which often has a more immediate onset. Pearlman defines vicarious traumatization as “a process of [cognitive] change resulting from [chronic] empathic engagement with trauma survivors” (as cited in Newell & MacNeil, 2010, p. 60). People experiencing vicarious trauma often have cognitive shifts in their beliefs and thinking: “examples of changes in cognition when one experiences vicarious traumatization include alterations in one’s sense of self; changes in world views about key issues such as safety, trust, and control; and changes in spiritual beliefs” (Newell & MacNeil, 2010, p. 59). Though you have not experienced the traumatic event firsthand, you may develop symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after supporting a client who has experienced trauma, such as images of trauma popping into your head, dreaming about the traumatic situation, or avoiding certain situations or activities associated with the trauma.

According to Cordes et al., several factors can influence the development of burnout in child and youth care: “the demographic factors that have been shown to be most predictive of burnout levels are age of the employee, marital status and perceived levels of social support” (as cited in Barford & Whelton, 2010, p. 272). Being a younger worker, married, and lacking in social supports can significantly impact chances that burnout may occur. Other factors also include organizational factors such as role conflict, role ambiguity, work overload, the quality of interactions between coworkers and supervisors, and employee involvement (Barford & Whelton, 2010). If an employee feels they are not supported by their employer and are overworked, the chances of burnout increase immensely. Barford and Whelton (2010) highlight some of the practical recommendations for employers looking for ways to reduce and prevent burnout among their staff. These include:

• Ensuring CYCs are well trained and knowledgeable regarding their roles and responsibilities
• Providing proper training and workshops
• Practicing effective communication between supervisors and staff
• Cultivating a sense of pride and loyalty within the organization
• Mentoring of new employees by more experienced employees (p. 284)

Dr. Lorraine Fox (2019) did a review of the literature and compiled a list of signs that indicate potential burnout in child and youth care professionals. When working as a CYC, it is imperative that you are aware of these signs so you can then identify if/when burnout might be occurring for you. If you begin to see any of these things happening in your life, be sure to connect with your college or placement supervisor to discuss what is going on.

• Increased irritability and impatience with the children
• Denial of the impact traumatic events have had on the children and teens
• Feelings of numbness or detachment
• Inability to resolve or admit there is a problem
• Intense feelings and intrusive thoughts about the client’s past traumas that don’t lessen over time
• Dreams about the client’s traumas
• Strong desire to get away from children
• Feelings of loss of “balance” in one’s life
• Loss of boundaries
• Inability to manage strong feelings
• Shifting from a positive to a negative sense of self
• Feeling exhausted and depleted
• Withdrawal and emotional and physical distancing
• Inability to enjoy life
• Feeling overwhelmed by endless tasks
• Chronic physical and mental fatigue
• Rigidity (difficulty being flexible)
• Shortened attention span
• Wide variety of physical symptoms
• Feeling overly responsible
• Feeling inadequate or feeling like a failure
• Feeling unsafe (Fox, 2019, p. 276)

Although chances of burnout are high in the CYC field, the results of a study done by Barford and Welton (2010) indicate that “although CYCs are mentally and physically exhausted, they are still fairly engaged and feel a high degree of pride and accomplishment in their field” (p. 281). This gives us hope in the fact that CYCs are generally committed and passionate about the work they do. With appropriate self-awareness and self-care, we can all be effective agents of change in the lives of children, youth, and their families.