Compassion Fatigue Books and Links

Compassion Fatigue Books, Videos & Links

Books on Compassion Fatigue, Post Traumatic Stress, & Burnout

	Compassion Fatigue in the Animal Care Community Charley Figley and Robert Roop From the Foreward by Wayne Pacelle: " For most people who work in the animal protection field it's a calling and along with the rewards come great emotional hardships. Whether you work at a shelter, a sanctuary or a veterinary clinic, or in one of the thousands of animal-protection groups, every day brings a mix of hope and despair. Even on the best of days, there are disappointments and painful moral choices—and there is always more work to do.” An excellent book to help all animal care workers find ways to both cope with the symptoms of compassion fatigue and explore ways to heal it as they continue doing the work of their heart to help the animals in their community and all over the earth. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
	The PTSD Workbook, Simple Effective Techniques for Overcoming Traumatic Stress Symptoms Mary Beth Williams, Soili Poijula A highly practical book to help the reader understand PTS and work through healing
	I Can't Get over It: A Handbook for Trauma Survivors Aphrodite Matsakis Guides the reader through the healing process of recovering from PTS one step at a time
	Trust After Trauma: A Guide to Relationships for Survivors and Those Who Love Them Aphroditek Matsakis Comprehensive and invaluable
	The Highly Sensitive Person's Survival Guide Ted Zeff and Elain N. Aron Extremely helpful, practical guide for anyone who is easily depleted from the intensity of animal care work.
	Transforming the Pain Karen Saakvitne and Laurie Anne Pearlman A workbook of healing information and exercises for those suffering from compassion fatigue
	The Resilient Practitioner, Burnout Prevention and Self-Care Strategies Thomas M. Skovholt
	Managing Traumatic Stress through Art: Drawing from the Center Barry Cohen et al.
	The Way of the Journal: A Journal Therapy Workbook for Healing Kathleen Adams

Books on Understanding Shelters and Shelter Work
. . .which can be very affirming and comforting to those
who work in shelters and do rescue work

(also great books to give as gifts to help educate friends and family about what you do, and the plight of homeless animals)

	Circles of Compassion A Collection of Humane Words and Work Elaine Sichel HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
	Lost and Found, Everyday Heroes At a Country Animal Shelter Elizabeth Hess
	One at a Time, A Week in an American Animal Shelter Diane Leigh and Marilee Geyer HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
	Bridging the Bond: The Cultural Construction of the Shelter Pet Tami L. Harbolt

Books About the Impact of Early Animal Protection Laws

"These books are a fascinating read about how early animal protection laws were first employed to help a severely abused child (in the 1800’s) before there were child protection laws on the books. It's a story that most people are not aware of, but many shelter workers can take pride in our early beginnings to see how our work can have positive effects on people as well as animals."

~Lisa Hoefler, Director of Operations, SPCA of Monterey County, CA

	Out of the Darkness: The Story of Mary Ellen Wilson Eric A. Shelman & Stephen Lazoritz, M.D. c1999, Dolphin Moon Publishing
	The Mary Ellen Wilson Child Abuse Case and the Beginning of Children's Rights in 19th Century America Eric A. Shelman & Stephen Lazoritz, M.D. c2005, McFarland

Videos about Compassion Fatigue

Compassion Fatigue—The Cost of Caring
A video of how caregivers cope by HSUS

Pet Loss Grief Support

Animal Welfare Issues