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A raw and authentic podcast for those who work or volunteer in animal care, welfare, or activism, who are struggling with compassion fatigue, burnout, grief and loss, secondary traumatic stress, and other mental health concerns. Through both solo and guest episodes, I blend science, psychology, spirituality, and even a touch of "woo woo" to help you manage compassion fatigue, build resilience, and make your passion for helping animals sustainable. If you're involved in animal caregiving, rescue, trap-neuter return (TNR), sheltering, animal control, cruelty investigations, veterinary medicine, fostering, wildlife or marine rehabilitation and conservation, animal law or lobbying, ethical veganism, or any other role in animal care, welfare, or activism, and struggling with the consequences of caring so much that it hurts, this podcast is for you!
The host, Jen Blough, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor, compassion fatigue coach and speaker, and author with more than 35 years of experience in animal welfare and activism. She is the author of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior and the upcoming book, Beyond Compassion Fatigue.
Episodes
Aug 20, 2026
Aug 20, 2026
17 min
If you're someone who struggles with saying no, setting limits, or putting your own needs on the list, this episode is for you.
In animal care, welfare, rescue, vet med, and activism, boundaries can be particularly complicated. When you're surrounded by animals who need help and people who are struggling, it can be incredibly easy to fall into the belief that you have to keep giving—and that taking care of yourself means you're letting someone else down.
In this episode, I talk about affirmations and how they can help us practice a different way of talking to ourselves, particularly when it comes to boundaries.
And don't worry, this isn't about standing in front of the mirror declaring that everything is wonderful when it absolutely isn't.
You'll learn:
- Why affirmations aren't the same thing as toxic positivity
- How repetitive thoughts can become automatic
- What neuroplasticity has to do with changing thought patterns
- Why knowing you need a boundary isn't always enough to actually set one
- How affirmations can help you practice new beliefs
- Why you don't have to fully believe an affirmation for it to be useful
- How to incorporate affirmations into your everyday routine
- Boundary-setting affirmations specifically for animal welfare professionals
Resources:
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Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com.
Interested in becoming certified in compassion fatigue? Learn more here!
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Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here.
Visit my free virtual calming room here.
Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here.
Pre-order your copy of Beyond Compassion Fatigue: Trauma, Resilience, and Recovery in Animal Care and Advocacy here.
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