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Compassion Fatigue Recovery (ProQOL Framework)

stress-recovery · medium · 15 minutes for assessment, ongoing self-care integration

What is Compassion Fatigue Recovery (ProQOL Framework)?

Beth Hudnall Stamm's Professional Quality of Life assessment and recovery framework. Designed for helping professionals (healthcare, therapy, social work, teaching) who absorb others' trauma. Distinguishes between burnout (gradual depletion) and secondary traumatic stress (sudden absorption of others' trauma).

Is there evidence for it?

EVIDENCEstrong

How do you do Compassion Fatigue Recovery (ProQOL Framework)?

  1. 1.Take the ProQOL-5 self-assessment (free online, 30 items) to identify your current levels of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress
  2. 2.If secondary trauma scores are high: limit exposure to traumatic material, increase peer support, and consider professional supervision or therapy
  3. 3.Rebuild compassion satisfaction by reconnecting with why you entered helping work — spend time with success stories and positive outcomes
  4. 4.Implement the 'oxygen mask' protocol: schedule non-negotiable self-care activities daily (exercise, nature, creative hobby, social connection unrelated to work)
  5. 5.Reassess quarterly with ProQOL. If scores worsen despite self-care, consider structural changes: reduced caseload, role change, or temporary leave

How long does it take?

15 minutes for assessment, ongoing self-care integration.

Is it hard to start?

medium.

> how Shift handles burnout

Source: Beth Hudnall Stamm — Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL); Charles Figley — Compassion Fatigue (1995)
compassion-fatigue · trauma · helping-professionals · self-care · healthcare
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This is one entry from the library Shift matches against. It is general information, not advice about you, and nothing on this page came from anyone's conversation.