To Save a Starfish

Book excerpt: Compassion fatigue is the emotional drain experienced by caregivers of both people and animals. In this invaluable workbook, counselor and animal-welfare expert Jennifer A. Blough focuses on people who work with animals-and who often don't get the help they need. Through personal stories and exercises, Jennifer assists readers in overcoming care-related issues and regaining a positive psyche. In this workbook, you will learn the symptoms of compassion fatigue and the risk factors for developing it, and you will understand the human-animal relationship. You will discover how to practice mindfulness, meditate, and use progressive muscle relaxation techniques and massage therapy to calm the mind and body. The book will also help you to tweak your thought processes and communicate in a healthy way, while creating limits. You'll even receive tips on using nutrition, physical activity, and rest to help combat compassion fatigue. If you need counseling or group support, the book will guide you in the right direction. After completing the exercises and following Jennifer's expert advice, you will feel recharged and ready to return to helping animals in need.