Rekindling: Compassion Fatigue Solutions for Animal Workers

I found Julie for one on one coaching after contemplating it for several years- and my only regret is not pulling the trigger sooner. I would undoubtedly have lived the last few years very differently, but HEY! Always better late than never. Yes the focus may seem to be Compassion Fatigue- and that’s a big topic. Don’t have it? I didn’t either. But I sure did have burnout! And a host of other belief systems, behaviors, and mindsets that were not serving me- and tackling them felt very overwhelming. So like we all do, I blamed myself for not doing better. About what? Insert topic here ( )- you can add more to that space if you like. I was so busy overestimating my capabilities to run on fumes, and underestimating what I was bringing to my work, that I ran myself into the ground. I am begging you, not to let that be you. I have had 6 sessions with her, and will have many more as long as she does what she does- for we all know, that we can always be a better version of ourselves. I am not fixed, because I was not broken- but I feel better, and I love better, and I want more of THAT! What we all often don’t know is that we already are a better version of ourselves than we think we are, that there are SO MANY things to learn here that will just click and change your life, that we also have so many very shared, but sometimes enshrouded in shame, experiences. Fortunately for us- she picked Veterinary workers as her client base. But guess what! You don’t have to be. Just be a caregiver! To someone! Lots of someones or to pets! You will learn a whole lot here, about how attending to yourself is critical, about how to do that, about how to ask for help (just listening to a podcast is asking for help- did you know??) and about how that will let you spread your wings and fly, with so much less effort, and so much more authentically. You will learn to SHINE! If you are not sure about one on one, fine- don’t take my spot LOL! But maybe give a listen to any of her hundreds of podcasts. You found your tribe. Right here. Now quit dimming your shine!

I’ve been listening to this podcast for several years. Julie encourages me to challenge how I perceive myself and the world. I would highly recommend to anyone who works with animals daily to listen to the podcast and get the help we all need.

We see and do so much, and it can be so difficult to make sense of it all, appreciate it, grieve for it, and celebrate it. Julie has taught me so much about the ways to honor this work, the heartbreak and the hope. And she is honest, and funny, and compassionate. And she has wonderful guests that offer unique insights beyond her own. Julie, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for lifting us up.

I was at a talk Julie gave several years ago, right after she created Rekindle Solutions. I signed up for the weekly email, which while I didn’t always read I found insightful when I did. I finally started listening to the podcast several months ago, during a time in my life with many unexpected (and unwanted) changes. It was a life line. I don’t feel like I’m exaggerating when I say almost every episode brings some aha moment, some light bulb turning on, some actually exclaiming “yes!” out loud. My struggles have been more around burn out it my field and depression and anxiety, and while the focus of the podcast is technically compassion fatigue everything felt so relevant and helpful. After 2 months of listening I’ve almost caught up, and can imagine listening to episodes again to reinforce the techniques discussed. This podcast is for everyone but especially if you are in veterinary medicine/animal care, have burn out, imposter syndrome, feel overwhelmed by the weight of the world, etc. Thank you so much, Julie.