Rekindling: Compassion Fatigue Solutions For Animal Workers

In 1992 Gary Chapman released his best-selling book The 5 Love Languages outlining how romantic partners expressed and experienced love. While I was working on a recent presentation for a group of veterinary hospital managers I thought about these "love languages" as it related to how we all feel appreciated at work. Well come to find out Gary Chapman had thought of this too and in 2011 he partnered with Paul White and wrote The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace. Like "love languages", the 5 languages of appreciation are: 1. Words of Affirmation 2. Acts of Service 3. Tangible Gifts 4. Quality Time 5. Physical Touch You can access a 30-question quiz for your staff/team or to find out your own "language of appreciation" at www.rekindlesolutions.com/language.

We are all energy. The animals we work with are energy too. So it stands to reason that energy-based practices make sense to offset compassion fatigue and burnout. Think of it like another tool in your self-care toolbox. This episode is an interview with Emily Carveth. Emily is a multi-disciplinary professional with over 15 years of experience in veterinary medicine. She is passionate about the role of self-care in mental health and wellness for veterinary professionals. Currently she is obtaining her certification as a Compassion Fatigue Professional, along with her Master's of Social Work at Fairfield University. She plans to specialize in Veterinary Social Work. Emily recently became a certified Usui Reiki Master, and is an Emotional Freedom Technique Certified Practitioner. In her spare time, Emily loves singing, dancing and spending time with her wonderful partner Dan and their cat Rowland. Find Emily on socials: Facebook : Sacred Exchange Wellness Instagram : @sacred_exchange_wellness Also mentioned in

What makes one person willing to reach out for help and someone else not? It often comes down to being willing to experience vulnerability rather than shame. Many still think we're supposed to figure our lives out all by ourselves. I don't believe that. At all. I believe we are meant to lean on each other at various times in our lives. And I can tell you with absolute certainty that if I weren't for all the times I did the "leaning", you wouldn't be listening to this episode because there'd be no podcast to listen to! 

Feelings (or emotions) aren't all or nothing. You can carry some of the heavier ones (like grief and sadness) around with you while you still live your life. While you still go to work and feed your kids and even go to the grocery store. The key is to just keep allowing them, feeling them and not trying to make them go away. This episode will explain how you can feel both sadness + hope, grief + relief and even rejection + excitement at almost the same time! And feeling one doesn't discount the other. Check it out!

As a pet owner to a special needs dog, I've experienced my own compassion fatigue at times. It's not always easy to care for pet's that require a lot from us. It's always rewarding but not always easy. If you're a pet owner check out my 10 tips in this episode. If you're a veterinary professional or work in animal welfare, this episode will show you the "other side" of compassion fatigue. One we don't talk about all that often. And if you want to donate to my fundraising for my beloved Catskill Animal Sanctuary, you can text GOATGAMES105 to 71777 or use this link: https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/goatgames/JulieSquires. Campaign runs until 8/16/20. Thank you!

Life is beautiful and challenging in equal proportions, even during a pandemic. But are you looking for what actually might even be "good" during this time? Are you allowing your brain to entertain the idea that even in a time like this, we can find joy, happiness and excitement.  There is equal part light and dark. Don't forget to give equal time to looking at the light.  I've added new webinars to my website. If you'd like to bring one to your veterinary practice, organization or institution you can get more info at www.rekindlesolutions.com/webinars.  

One of the skills I've honed as a life coach is the ability to hold the neutral space of non-judgment. Our brain will usually look for and focus on evidence to prove our belief's true. It's in this way that often we don't see things as they are, we see them as we think they are. Very different realities. There's a cost that comes with being judgmental in our work and in our private lives. It most often causes a great deal of pain and struggle for us. In this episode I will share with you what the space of being non-judgmental could look like in your work and your life. It's always an option and while we might not choose it every time but allow it to be an option for you.

Bully's have existed since the beginning of time. Bullies do and say things that we perceive as mean, hateful and aggressive and we become victims to their actions and find ourselves suffering. I look at bullying a little different than most. So how do you deal with it when you're being bullied? Does your veterinary practice or workplace have a bullying policy? All good questions and in this episode I have answers.

You may think perfectionism makes you better. You may think it allows you to take better care of your patients, the animals in your care and people who are looking to you for help. But you'd be wrong. Perfectionism doesn't make us better. Instead it keeps us trapped in fear. Fear of making a mistake. Fear of the self-loathing in the aftermath of making a mistake. Fear of not being "enough". In this episode I will expose you to the truth about perfectionism and show you how it differs greatly from the desire for excellence. One is about you and the other is about others. Check it out!

Our relationships with other people is all based on what we think about them. If our thoughts are positive, the relationship will also be so. The same goes for if our thoughts are negative about the other person. The relationship also will be negative. We mistakenly think that a relationship with another exists outside of us but it doesn't. We are just two people having thoughts about each other. This is how you can still have a relationship with a person or pet that has died. Also important is the relationship you have with yourself. It's the longest one you'll every have so it's worth spending time on and becoming aware of what you think about yourself vs. what you WANT to think about yourself. In this episode I'll help you: -with your relationships with others (even those you deem "difficult") -with how to let others be who they are and not be angry about the way that they are -understand when boundaries come into play -to have a better relationship with yourself Upcoming CE Virtual Event July 26, 2020 Und

Dr. Wanda West and I continue our conversation around how the uprising for racial equality feels different. The momentum behind the Black Lives Matter movement is growing and White people are engaged like never before. Dr. West also shares how racism is by no means an American thing as she's experienced it overseas as well. We talk about how the Black community and especially Black women are talking to young Black boys to prepare them for a world that currently does not always treat them fairly. And we'll end our spirited conversation with a piece on RESPECT that Wanda's grandkids created. They are words for us all to live by!

We all have a story. Of where we came from and the obstacles we've faced and overcome to get where we are today. Being a White woman I have never had the color of my skin be an obstacle. My guest in this episode, Dr. Wanda West, DVM, PhD, DACLAM cannot say the same. As a Black woman she faced many instances of racism growing up in the south. As a Black vet student and eventual veterinarian, she did as well. Veterinary medicine has been called the whitest profession in America. According to the AVMA, Black Americans have never comprised more than 3% of all veterinarians. In Part 1 of this two-part episode Dr. West and I talk about: -her earliest experience of racism in the first grade - going to an integrated college for her undergrad degree - experiencing both encouragement and discouragement to pursue a career in vet med as a woman and as a Black woman - attending what was then a mostly White Mississippi State for vet school - experiencing racism as a veterinarian

The term "white privilege" was coined in the late 80's in an article by Peggy McIntosh, Associate Director of Wellesley College Center for Research for Women. Essentially these are unearned privileges that whites have benefitted from for years and years. Most of them are invisible to white people as we only know our own experience. This is a time to not get defensive but to remain open to learning all that you can about racial inequality and all of our unconscious biases. In this episode I share the list that Peggy McIntosh made of her daily effects of white privilege. I've also added some of my own.

Can women really have it all? A career they love, motherhood and a life they love? Absolutely but it will require releasing the idea of doing it all perfectly. How does a busy veterinarian, wife and mother of a 5 yr. old fit in self-care, work travel, relief work and time for family? Very carefully. Listen in on my conversation with Dr. RuthAnn Lobos, lead veterinarian at Merrick PetCare as we discuss it all. 

I continue answering questions from the audience this week. Questions about handling negative feedback/reviews from clients, feeling jealous of those the are staying home during this time, feeling frustrated at work, self-care and feeling guilty for enjoying yourself during the pandemic while knowing others are struggling. In honor of #BlackLivesMatter and to show my solidarity with all black people, I end this episode with a reading of a Langston Hughes poem," I,Too".

I recently asked my email list, if we were meeting for lunch what questions they would ask me. Let's just say they did not disappoint. So much that their questions and my answers will span two episodes. This is Part 1. Please enjoy! If you'd like to join my e-inspiration list, go to www.rekindlesolutions.com and opt in.

All of us that work with or for animals are extremely passionate about what we do. We can also start to think what we DO (aka our job)  is who we ARE and that simply isn't true. To get more clarity around this we have to talk about Purpose. Your purpose ultimately is being human and congratulations because you've already achieved that. Now you can decide who you want to BE in your life. That is your Purpose. Who you get to be while you do what you do. What a privilege to discover this!

Your brain loves to prove itself right. Any belief you have about yourself, others or the world your brain will always be trying to provide evidence for how it's true. But what if you use this FOR you rather than against you? What if you believe harder in yourself? What if you looked for what you're grateful for rather than what you want to be different right now? The results could just be amazing!

Right now many pet owners are financially struggling. Feeding their pets can become a real challenge for many people at a time like this and offering support can make the difference between them keeping their pet or surrendering it to a shelter.    GreaterGood.org's mission is to help People, Pets and the Planet. They are currently helping People and their Pets in a massive way by offering pet food to those in need.    In this episode I interview Melissa Vecera, Director of In-Kind Donations for GreaterGood.org. I've know Melissa for many years now but didn't understand the breadth of what her organization is doing until now. 

Dr. Ernie Ward may be best know as "America's Pet Advocate". As a veterinarian he has spent his entire career practicing, writing about, teaching, and encouraging better care for animals. We talk about that and a whole lot more! Some controversial, some common sense but all in the spirit of compassion for animals. You can find out more about Dr. Ward at: CleanPetFoodRevolution.com DrErnieWard.com WildEarth.com @DrErnieWard- social media