Compassion fatigue

Risks on the psychoterapist work with posttraumatic stressed patients

Abstract

The following work analyzes some characteristics and the professional risks that can be presented as the result of an empathic guidance on mental health workers, such as, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists or psychoanalysts. This article is product of my experience on the clinical domains of psychoanalysis, psychotherapy and supervision, domains where I had the opportunity of experience them on myself, and to live from the colleagues, the effects of work and contact with the mental pain of our patients.

The malaise suffered from professionals or workers involved on the manage of highly stress situations, emotionally demanding and/or traumatizing on a second level, how the work with terminal patients, victims of violence and/or physical or sexual abuse, with people affected by catastrophes, people with borderline personality, among others, can be identified with different terms: burnout syndrome, compassion fatigue, vicarious traumatization, or secondary post-traumatic stress. In this work it will be developed the compassion fatigue theme, because this a fundamental tool of our quotidian chores, and if we are found in poor conditions, and can not access to this competency, our task will be diminished by such situation.