2.4K
Downloads
53
Episodes
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
Thursday Apr 23, 2026
Thursday Apr 23, 2026
In the first episode of this two-part series of Beyond Compassion Fatigue, I dive into one of the most challenging parts of working in animal welfare: dealing with criticism from the public, the kind that feels like “damned if we do, damned if we don’t.” Inspired by a listener’s comment about the heartbreak of seeing coworkers burn out under public scrutiny, I share my own experiences as a former shelter worker.
I also talk about why this criticism hurts so much and the psychology behind public outrage and explains why so much of it isn’t truly about you, but about the critic’s own helplessness.
I’ll teach you some strategies for staying grounded and protecting your nervous system when faced with criticism or hostility, including:
- Techniques to self-regulate during in-person confrontations (fight, flight, freeze, or shutdown responses)
- Strategies for handling online criticism from “keyboard warriors”
- Nervous system regulation tools to help you stay calm, present, and resilient
Resources Mentioned:
Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com.
Follow on social media:
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.
No comments yet. Be the first to say something!