Compassion Fatigue and Why All DEI Practitioners Need a Therapist

If you’re a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Practitioner, you’re probably already aware of the emotional strain this job can put on you. It’s common for individuals working in social work to become overwhelmed or weighed down, and there’s a simple term that encompasses this: compassion fatigue. It’s not your fault, though! Compassion fatigue is a very real and common feeling that many DEI practitioners experience. Let’s review some strategies for dealing with compassion fatigue and why getting a therapist may be a great option.

What is Compassion Fatigue?

This is a term that refers to the emotional exhaustion that can result from working with people who are suffering or in distress, and it can play out as feelings of frustration, anger, sadness, helplessness, and burnout. If you’re a DEI practitioner or therapist experiencing these symptoms, you may have compassion fatigue. 

It’s only natural for people who work in social or caregiving fields to get worn out from the emotional work over time, so it’s totally understandable if you’re feeling this way. DEI work is personal. It takes an immense amount of empathy and understanding to work in this field. On top of the caregiving, social role that DEI practitioners play in their career, they are also handling heavy topics such as dismantling systems of inequity and tackling larger issues of inequality. It’s no wonder that DEI practitioners are experiencing compassion fatigue!

Why Does it Happen?

Compassion fatigue can happen to anyone in any caregiving profession. It’s not just therapists and counselors, but nurses, doctors, social workers, and DEI practitioners can also experience this. The demands of these jobs are often very high—you’re dealing with people in crisis, you’re handling conflicts and disagreements, and you may be taking on the stress and emotions of patients as you help them. Compassion fatigue doesn’t happen overnight, rather it builds up over time as you consistently deal with the challenges of work.

How to Cope with Compassion Fatigue

If you’re currently struggling with compassion fatigue or you’re looking for ways to prevent it from occurring, there are many strategies that can help. Here’s some of our advice in managing compassion fatigue in your job:

• Take a break. When’s the last time you went on vacation or spent time fully caring for yourself? If you’re feeling emotionally drained or overwhelmed, it may be time to take a day off. 

• Seek help or advice from others in the field. You can learn a lot from more experienced practitioners. Ask them if they’ve ever felt compassion fatigue and what they do to cope.

• Learn to care for yourself. It’s important to set aside time everyday to recharge and rest. Simply reading a book or taking a bath may be what you need in the short term.

• Get a therapist. Yes, you heard us correctly! Even DEI practitioners can have a therapist, and this is a great long term strategy to processing thoughts, emotions, and overcoming compassion fatigue. 

Why All DEI Practitioners Need a Therapist

In the field of DEI, practitioners often work with people who have experienced trauma or difficult life situations. This can trigger compassion fatigue more often, as it’s a heavy topic to deal with and provide care for. As humans, we all have limits to our attention, care, and concern for others, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Finding a therapist as a DEI practitioner is a wonderful idea, and many therapists actually have a therapist themselves! It’s a solution that’s provided to help you understand your emotions and manage your stress by teaching strategies such as mindfulness practices or new thinking patterns. Therapists offer much-needed perspective on our experiences working in this field and they provide a place to let out your pent up stress and emotions.

Overcoming compassion fatigue is crucial as a DEI practitioner since you need compassion and motivation within the job. With symptoms of disillusionment, lack of enthusiasm, frustration, exhaustion, and even skepticism, it can filter into your work and have detrimental effects on the clients you’re working with. 

Find yourself a therapist and overcome compassion fatigue, both for yourself and your clients and coworkers. We believe that you can do it!