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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 Sep 12, 2025
Friday Sep 12, 2025
On today's show, we talk with Kelly Bremken, a veterinary social worker from Oregon Humane Society. Kelly sheds light on:
- What is a veterinary social worker and what her role looks like day to day.
- How veterinary social work is similar to and different from traditional social work.
- How veterinary social workers can support staff and volunteers with managing compassion fatigue, trauma, grief, or burnout.
- How Kelly personally maintains healthy boundaries and manages her own compassion fatigue in such an emotionally demanding role.
- How does the Oregon Humane Society prioritizes mental health and wellness for its staff and volunteers.
- Where can veterinary social workers be utilized?
- What organizations can do to promote employee wellness--with or without the help of a veterinary social worker.
Resources mentioned:
To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior
Jessica Dolce’s Compassion in Balance Program
International Association of Veterinary Social Work
University of Tennessee Center for Veterinary Social Work
Free resources:
https://www.beyondcompassionfatigue.com
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