As a school-based SLP, working alongside children, supporting their needs, and addressing challenging issues can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be incredibly demanding. If you’ve ever felt emotionally drained or like you’re losing the spark for the job you love, you’re not alone. Some would call this burnout. Yet others would say it's compassion fatigue. While these terms often get lumped together, they’re not exactly the same. Let's dive into what compassion fatigue is, how it differs from burnout, the ways it can affect you and strategies to combat it so you can keep doing the work you love without running on empty.
What is Compassion Fatigue and How Does It Differ from Burnout?
Compassion fatigue, known as the "cost of caring," occurs when you become emotionally and physically exhausted from consistently supporting students facing trauma, stress, or challenging circumstances. This is common among educators who regularly interact with students facing serious issues like abuse, neglect, mental health or other health related challenges.
When compassion fatigue creeps in, you might notice your empathy tank running on empty. That passion you had when you started this career? It feels like it’s slipping away and being replaced by a sense of helplessness. You may even find yourself emotionally shutting down to cope. Compassion fatigue is tied to empathy overload. It’s that emotional exhaustion from caring so deeply for others’ well-being.
Burnout, on the other hand, is like running on fumes… except you’ve been running on fumes for months. It’s that feeling of dread on Monday mornings, constantly playing catch-up, and snapping at a well-meaning coworker because you’re just too overwhelmed to handle one more thing.
In a nutshell, compassion fatigue is emotional overload from supporting students through tough times. Burnout is more general exhaustion from the system, workload, or workplace. One is about too much empathy, while the other is about too much everything. Both run the risk of sidelining your emotional well-being.
Signs You Might Have Compassion Fatigue
Here are a few red flags to watch out for:
You’re starting to feel numb or detached from students’ challenges.
Therapy sessions might feel less effective when you’re emotionally drained.
Your patience is MIA, and little things make you snap whether at work or home.
You want to help, but it’s starting to feel too much.
You might notice headaches, exhaustion, or that your body feels just… off.
Mental fog: Struggling to stay organized or make decisions—Post-it notes to the rescue (or not).
Signs You Might Be Experiencing Burnout
Examples of burnout you might identify with:
You’re completely wiped out—mentally, emotionally, physically.
You start questioning if anything you do even matters. (Spoiler: it does, but burnout makes it hard to believe that.)
You’re detached, frustrated, and maybe even bitter about work.
You may experience less patience with co-workers.
Motivation? Gone. Energy? What’s that?
If you’ve read this far and thought, “Oh no, this sounds like me,” don’t panic. We're getting to the good stuff.
You Can't Pour From an Empty Cup
We've all heard the saying, "You can't pour from an empty cup", yet it’s easy to forget this truth when you’re focused on helping others. Besides therapy sessions, IEP meetings, report writing, and ALL the other everyday activities you normally do, you consistently make yourself available to support overwhelmed students, teachers, and parents. You've read up on trauma-informed care and you KNOW the importance of self-care, yet it's the first thing to be cut from your ever-growing list.
(Now, insert that other quote about putting on your oxygen mask before helping others with theirs. If it's overstated, it's because it's extremely important. And necessary.)
Strategies for Managing Emotional Exhaustion and Preventing Burnout
Prioritizing your own well-being isn’t selfish; it’s what allows you to stay effective and present for your colleagues, students, and their families. Here are some ways to tackle compassion fatigue and start feeling like yourself again:
Set Routines That Include Breaks: Carve out moments to reset, even if it’s just a quick stretch or a walk up and down the hallway (or outside) between sessions. Mindfulness or deep breathing can also help calm your mind.
Find Ways to Grow Professionally: Sometimes, trying a new approach to therapy or attending a workshop can re-light that spark for your work (Thank you, Graham Speech and Adventures in Speech). Bonus: Learning about self-care in these spaces is a double win.
Lean on Your Team: You’re not in this alone. Chat with your coworkers, swap stories with fellow SLPs, or join a community. Even a quick “ugh, my day was bananas” text to a trusted friend can help lighten the load.
Say No (Without Guilt): It’s okay to protect your time and energy. Prioritize what’s essential and let some things go. Yes, even that last-minute request to reprint a report for a meeting.
Delegate Tasks: I know, I know. Delegate to whom? But if you are fortunate enough to work alongside an SLPA or you are part of an SLP Professional Learning Community or if your building has parent volunteers, these may be valid options for lightening your load.
By making time to recharge and refill your cup—through small daily (and intentional) habits—you ensure you have the energy and resilience to continue supporting others without depleting yourself.
Self-Care Practices that Actually Work
You already know self-care is vital, but as stated earlier, it’s often the first thing to go when the demands of the day pile up. Here are a few practical, manageable ideas to help you prioritize yourself:
Schedule Regular Breaks: Even short ones—like 5 minutes between back-to-back sessions—can help.
Have Fun Outside of Work: Whether it’s yoga, baking, reading for fun or binging your favorite Netflix show, having something fun to look forward to is key.
Have Fun "Inside" of Work, Too: Find ways to bring some fun or humor into your day. Keep a "quote of the day" log because, let's face it, kids say hilarious things, am I right? Or maybe create a personal mantra to repeat to yourself as you rack up those "hallway" steps between sessions. Pick something that makes YOU smile on the inside.
Celebrate the Little Wins: Writing down daily wins (no matter how small) can remind you why your work matters.
Listen to inspiring podcasts or audiobooks during your commute to and from work.
Stay hydrated and actually eat the healthy snacks you packed for the day.
Don't Be An Island. Build Your Support System
In a previous blogpost, Never Underestimate the Value of Connection, I write about the importance of building connections with students. Similarly, connections with trusted colleagues, mentors, and fellow SLPs, are as much a superpower as the connections you establish with your students. Sometimes, venting to someone who speaks “IEP” fluently is all you need. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider professional counseling as it can be a safe space to unpack your emotions without judgment.
The Importance of Setting Boundaries and Prioritizing Self-Care
Boundaries = Balance. Setting healthy boundaries is the ultimate self-care. Here are a few ways to set them:
Protect your plan time and lunch break: I know, I know. It seems impossible with the every-increasing workload. But try to give yourself time for yourself. It matters. You matter!
Limit after-hours work: Avoid taking work home or checking emails outside work hours (that IEP can wait).
Prioritize yourself: You don’t have to say yes to every request. Whatever it is will more than likely get done even if you say no.
Set small, achievable goals: Don’t try to fix everything at once. Taking one step at a time can help reduce "work-life" tripping hazards.
Let go of perfectionism: embrace no/low prep activities, trust your abilities, remind yourself that progress looks differently and is achieved at varying rates for every student, adopt the "less is more" approach in your report and progress writing—concise blurbs can be as impactful as lengthy narratives.
Compassion Fatigue is Real
Compassion fatigue is real and it's quite literally exhausting. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. But it doesn’t have to take over. By recognizing it and making small changes, you can recharge and rediscover why you fell in love with being an SLP (and the students and families you work with) in the first place.
Take care of yourself—it’s the only way you can keep taking care of your students. You’re doing amazing work, and they’re lucky to have you.
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