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Addressing Compassion Fatigue: Evidence-Based Strategies for Helpers

CLINICAL EVENTS

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Addressing Compassion Fatigue: Evidence-Based Strategies for Helpers

Compassion Fatigue Training for Therapists

Aug. 29, 2026

10:00 AM - 1:15 PM (EST)

Virtual Event
3 CE Credits
Many professionals working in the helping professions, especially therapists, have had little training in how to detect and manage signs of significant stress, burnout, or compassion fatigue, which can have serious consequences both personally and in terms of negative client outcomes when a provider is impaired. This training will explain the factors involved, identify high-risk situations and early warning signs, and provide strategies to alleviate the effects of caregiver stress.

Compassion Fatigue Training for Therapists

There is considerable literature that has accumulated showing the effects of working in the helping professions in terms of experiencing significant personal stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue. In addition, research has shown that being compromised in this way affects clinical outcomes in a negative way. This training will outline the extent of the problem and provide information on predictive risk factors as well as on the consequences of helper distress. A CBT model will be described, which helps provide a framework for these issues. There will be a focus on developing skills to identify warning signals of distress and to recognize triggers and high-risk situations. Strategies drawn from CBT and related fields will be described that can alleviate these problems.

Session Highlights
  • The prevalence and risk factors for helper distress, burnout, and compassion fatigue
  • A model to understand the onset of therapist or helper stress
  • Early recognition of the early warning signs of personal distress
  • Identifying and preparing for high-risk situations
  • Strategies to offset distress and suffering that can occur in a helper role
Key Takeaways For Clinicians

“Compassion Fatigue Training helps clinicians recognize the emotional and physical impact of prolonged exposure to client suffering and high-stress environments. This Compassion Fatigue Training provides a deeper understanding of how burnout, secondary trauma, and emotional exhaustion develop over time. Through this Compassion Fatigue Training, therapists and helping professionals can identify early warning signs and apply practical, evidence-based strategies to strengthen resilience and maintain professional effectiveness. This Compassion Fatigue Training also focuses on building sustainable self-care practices that support long-term well-being and reduce the risk of burnout in demanding clinical settings.

By engaging in Compassion Fatigue Training, clinicians can improve emotional awareness, set healthier professional boundaries, and enhance their ability to manage complex client interactions. This Compassion Fatigue Training highlights the importance of balancing empathy with self-protection, ensuring that therapists can continue providing high-quality care without compromising their own mental health. Learn more about compassion fatigue and burnout from Mental Health America.

Overall, this Compassion Fatigue Training equips clinicians with actionable tools to navigate stress, prevent burnout, and build a more sustainable and effective clinical practice through ongoing awareness and support.

Learn more about upcoming clinical training events at Clinical Events”.

This live interactive webinar is designed for behavioral health professionals, including:

  • Counselors
  • Social Workers
  • Psychotherapists
  • Marriage & Family Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Substance Use Disorders Counselors
  • Case Managers
  • Physicians
  • Other Mental Health Professionals
John Ludgate, PhDJohn Ludgate, PhD

John has worked as a psychotherapist for almost 30 years. He currently works at the CBT Center of Western North Carolina, located in Asheville, NC. He specializes in treating mood, anxiety, relationship, and psychosexual disorders. As well as having an active clinical practice, he is involved in training and supervision in CBT.

He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Trinity College, Dublin; a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from University of Edinburgh in Scotland; and a PhD from Trinity College, Dublin. He trained at the Center for Cognitive Therapy under Dr. Aaron Beck, the founder of Cognitive Therapy, obtaining a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Cognitive Therapy from the University of Pennsylvania in 1986. He subsequently became Assistant Director of Training at Dr. Beck’s Center. In the early 1990s, Dr. Ludgate was a Research Clinical Psychologist at the University of Oxford in England and served as a cognitive-behavioral therapist in several outcome studies of panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, and hypochondriasis. He subsequently worked as a clinical psychologist in state agencies and private practice.

In 1988, he published the book Maximizing Psychotherapeutic Gains and Preventing Relapse in Emotionally Distressed Clients and was co-editor with Beck and others of Cognitive Therapy with Inpatients: Developing a Cognitive Milieu, published in 1990. He published Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Relapse Prevention for Depression and Anxiety in 2009 and Heal Yourself: A CBT Approach to Reducing Therapist Distress and Increasing Therapeutic Effectiveness in 2012. In 2014, he co-authored the book Overcoming Compassion Fatigue: A Practical Resilience Workbook with Martha Teater. In 2016, he co-edited the book Teaching and Supervising Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, published by Wiley. With Teresa Grubr, he published the CBT Couples Toolbox in 2018. He has written numerous journal articles and book chapters in the field of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for anxiety and depression. He has presented many seminars and workshops on cognitive behavioral approaches, both nationally and internationally. He is a Founding Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and serves on the Credentialing Committee of the Academy.

After this training, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the issues that can arise for professionals engaged in helping others.
  • Recognize personal early warning signs of distress/stress and to recognize high-risk situations.
  • Describe effective strategies to cope when stress reactions related to the helper role occur.

10:00 -10:05 am – Introduction

10:05-10:30 am –What do we know about distress in therapists and caregivers, and predictive factors

10:30-11:00 am -A  CBT conceptualization of therapist distress

11:00-11:30 am -Assessment of risk and consequences

11:30-11:45 am – Break

11:45-12:15 pm –Recognizing early warning signs and identifying high-risk situations

12:15-12:45 pm – Practical strategies for managing stress responses occurring in caregiving/helping clients

12:45-1:05 pm –Coming up with a personalized action plan to reduce distress and increase therapy effectiveness

1:05-1:15 pm – Q&A

Intermediate.

Registration Cost

Registration $67 | Aug. 29 | Virtual Event | 3 CE Credits | 10:00 am – 1:15 pm ET

Registration Deadline:  Aug. 29, 2026

 

Cancellation Policy

All registrations are non-refundable. However, you may request a full credit toward a future training if:

  • You notify us at least 72 hours before the event start time.
  • Credit is valid for up to 6 months from the original event date.
  • No credit will be issued for no-shows or cancellations made on the same day.
  • When you register for an event, you agree to these terms

Please email [email protected] to request a credit or reschedule.

A total of 3 CE credits are available.

Additional Approvals Pending.


ASWB ACE

Clinical Events, LLC, (provider # 2201) is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 11/01/2025 – 11/01/2028.

NBCC

Clinical Events, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved   Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7643 Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Clinical Events, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

NAADAC

This course has been approved by Clinical Events, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #320899, Clinical Events is responsible for all aspects of the programming.

NY State Board of Psychologists

Clinical Events, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0292.

NY State Board of Social Workers

Clinical Events, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0828.

NY State Board of Mental Health Counselors

Clinical Events, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0329.

NY State Board of Marriage & Family Therapists

Clinical Events, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0140.

NJ State Board of Social Workers & Professional Counselors

The New Jersey Social Work Examiners Board accepts ASWB ACE Provider credits. The New Jersey Professional Counselors Board accepts NBCC-approved CE provider credits.

All Other States Social Workers & Professional Counselors

All other states accept ASWB ACE Provider credits and NBCC-approved CE provider credits. Licensees are responsible for determining whether courses meet the CE requirements in their jurisdictions. States and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for credit.

Florida Certification Board

Clinical Events is approved by the Florida Certification Board (FCB) to offer continuing education programs (Provider # 5527-A).

Canada Social Workers

BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, and QC accept ASWB ACE-approved provider programs to meet licensure renewal requirements.  Licensees are responsible for determining whether courses meet the CE requirements in their province. Provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for credit.

Canada Counsellors

Clinical Events is an NBCC-approved provider.  Licensees are responsible for determining whether courses meet the CE requirements in their province. Provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for credit.

Please contact us if you would like to inquire about applicable approvals for your continuing education (CE) needs.

Each professional is responsible for understanding and meeting the specific CE requirements set by their individual licensing board or regulatory agency. We encourage you to reach out to your licensing body directly to confirm how our programs apply toward your licensure renewal.

Questions:  [email protected]

In accordance with continuing education standards and requirements, the presenter discloses that they have no relevant financial relationships, affiliations, or conflicts of interest to report.

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