An exploration of empathy fatigue in counsellors and their use of self-care strategies

Abstract The ability to join a client on a collaborative, non-expert level is based on a counsellor’s empathy. Yet the very capacity to show empathy and deep understanding of a client’s problems may make counsellors vulnerable to professional fatigue. Experiencing this phenomenon will negatively influence the therapeutic relationship. Self-care measures are at the core of bolstering a therapist’s resilience to ensure a high standard of working with clients. Instead of the more frequently researched compassion fatigue, this qualitative study uses the term empathy fatigue to broaden the scope of reported experiences. It examines the effects of empathy fatigue and self-care strategies reported by six counsellors from Asia-Pacific and Europe. While the lack of conceptual clarity on the different constructs of professional fatigue became apparent, rich data helped to interpret how the individual made sense of this phenomenon. Findings showed that self-care was commonly viewed as a self-mandated regimen satisfying both needs for empathy-free zones and social engagement. To help others, therapists need to help themselves first. Self-directed solution-focussed questions to gauge how effectively self-care measures in place are working prove useful for counsellors in managing and maintaining equilibrium in both professional and private settings.