Counselors' compassion fatigue: A descriptive phenomenological study
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Abstract
Currently, research on compassion fatigue predominantly faces gaps in structure and meaning because the structure and meaning surrounding compassion fatigue in the present time are not well-defined or static. There exist ongoing debates and conflicting interpretations regarding its definition. Moreover, there is a constant overlapping of meanings, and new meanings emerge continuously. This descriptive phenomenological study aimed to understand the meaning and essential structure of the compassion fatigue experiences of counselors. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and written descriptions with four counselors who have experienced compassion fatigue, and the data was analyzed using Giorgi's descriptive phenomenological method. The analysis showed the essential structure of the compassion fatigue experiences, comprising five constituents: 1. Lack or limited professional experience; 2.Sympathy with client suffering 3. Being unable to help clients; 4. Being unable to control negative emotions due to work overload; 5. Being negatively affected emotionally, physically, professionally, and relationally. We discuss these results in existing literature and suggest the implications of this research on (trainee) counsellor’s self-care and future research.
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