| Compassion fatigue is described as behavior or emotions experienced by those who help others who have experienced trauma. The aims of this study were (a) to obtain greater understanding of victim advocate experiences of self-identifying compassion fatigue, (b) examine how victim advocates self-identify, and (c) learn how they apply self-identification to self-care and possible resilience. A generic qualitative design using semi-structured interviews was used to gather data from victim advocates who worked with those who were known to have experienced trauma. Five major themes were identified using inductive thematic analysis: (a) emotions, (b) self-awareness, (c) situations, (d) outcomes, and (e) resilience. The results provide highlights and insights into the participant experiences working with victims of trauma, their self-identification of compassion fatigue, and their stories of resilience. The research provides direction for future training and educational practices on self-identification of compassion fatigue. |
