Compassion Fatigue
Once a patient at the treatment center where she worked met her, she was often the only therapist they would talk to. She wanted to be everything to everyone, but exhaustion and personal health issues arose...
She was in her fifties and had been a therapist since her 20's. She entered the field for all the right reasons after becoming part of the 12-step community in her late teens for alcohol addiction. She wanted to give back and support others out the "hell" that was once her life. Highly regarded in her field, she spoke at conferences, trained other professionals, and held positions such as clinical director. Always the last to leave work, her body was finally resisting the heavy load. A one week Intensive was enough to remind this very capable and wise woman about good self care. She shared how being willing to give her self the week on Maui allowed her the even bigger gift of remembering the importance of receiving.
A physician in his 40's had such a heavy surgical load that he didn't notice his business accounts becoming depleted...
He was shocked to find he hadn't been paid; and, in fact, many of his patients' insurance companies hadn't even been billed for their surgeries. He was broke. After working so hard, sleepless nights, barely seeing his children, his wife asked for a divorce. This very successful man came for a two week Intensive, not even realizing clearly what had gone wrong in his life. The time away on Maui offered perspective and rejuvenation. The Intensive provided the insight he needed to make solid changes to include himself in his own life. A few years later we received an email from him where he shared about vacations he had taken with his sons, as well as a new woman in his life who he planned to marry.