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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
Friday Jul 18, 2025
Friday Jul 18, 2025
In this episode of Beyond Compassion Fatigue, we dive deep into the topic of disenfranchised grief—the kind of grief that often goes unrecognized and unsupported by society. We'll explores how disenfranchised grief manifests in the world of animal care, welfare, and activism. Whether it's mourning a euthanized shelter pet, grieving a wild animal lost to environmental destruction, or feeling heartbroken over animals you've never even met, this episode validates and honors those deeply personal and often invisible losses. If you've ever been told, “It was just a dog,” or “You chose this work,” this episode is for you.
Topics covered include:
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What disenfranchised grief is and why it’s so common in animal welfare and activism
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Why society struggles to recognize or support this kind of grief
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Common examples of disenfranchised grief in the animal care field
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How unacknowledged grief can contribute to compassion fatigue, emotional exhaustion, and even PTSD
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The importance of acknowledging and processing grief—even when the world doesn’t understand
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Practical ways to cope and honor your grief through healthy outlets and support
Resources mentioned:
Compassion Fatigue Group Coaching Program
To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior
Grab your free resources at https://www.beyondcompassionfatigue.com/
Share your starfish tattoo with me! jen@jenblough.com
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