Compassion Fatigue and The Art of Self-Care 

COMPASSION FATIGUE AND THE ART OF CHRONIC SELF-CARE

Working with traumatized people has a profound impact on our personal lives---our thoughts, feelings, choices, relationships, physical health and spiritual beliefs. Although our clients often give us hope and restore our belief in the resiliency of human beings, the work can challenge or disrupt our sense of well-being. Too often we react to a crisis of well-being and many months later find ourselves in the same dilemma. This workshop will explore the highly individual ways that the work affects us as well as offering several strategies for chronic self-care. Participants are welcome to share professional and personal experiences during this time, however, the workshop may also have value for those who listen, reflect and choose not to share.

Linda T. (Lynn) Sanford, LICSW is a licensed independent clinical social worker who began her career working with victims of sexual assault. She has also worked for twenty years with youth who have been convicted of crimes against people (homicide, attempted homicide, and multiple sexual assaults).

Sanford has also taught at various graduate schools of social work in Massachusetts, achieving the rank of Professor of Practice in 2009.

She is the author of Strong at the Broken Places: Building Resiliency in the Lives of Survivors (1990, 2004) and The Silent Children (1980). Sanford is also co-author of Women and Self-Esteem (1984) and In Defense of Ourselves (1978).

Sanford currently works as a Military Family Life Consultant on Marine Corps Air Station at Iwakuni, Japan. She has also recently worked with children whose parents were deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq at Ramstein Air Base in Germany and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska.

In 2010, Sanford was an invited speaker to the American Society of Child Abuse Professionals National Conference speaking to civilians and officers in the Air Force Medical Wing on resiliency as they developed the Air Force Comprehensive Airmen Fitness Program.

Sanford received the Massachusetts National Association of Social Workers "Outstanding Contribution to Social Work Practice Award" and the Devereux Foundation "Legacy of Caring Award" in 2010.

Returning home to Boston in May 2014, Sanford will be open to consultation, training and Visiting Professor of Military Social Work opportunities. Please feel free to contact her at lynkochava@aol.com.