About Us

We See You…
Compassion Fatigue.

It’s a term you may be familiar with. It means different things to different people, but in short, it is the feeling of being overwhelmed and stressed due to ongoing, direct contact with others who are experiencing trauma and crisis.

The idea for a compassion fatigue retreat came about recently while I was staffing a table for Animals Asia (AnimalsAsia.org) at a Vegfest event nearby. In speaking with other animal welfare volunteers and professionals it became clear that I wasn’t the only one feeling completely engulfed in sadness and frustration about the seemingly unending stream of animal abuse and neglect we witness on a day-to-day basis. It seemed like everyone I spoke with was experiencing that type of weariness.

I contacted my friend, Patricia Smith, who is the Founder of the Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project and a certified Compassion Fatigue Specialist and Educator. She loved the idea and offered her help. She has graciously agreed to be the keynote speaker and facilitator at the retreat.

It is my heartfelt wish that by offering a space for this kind of healing to others, we, as a group will be stronger, more resilient, and able to continue doing the life-saving work that so desperately needs our efforts and unwavering voices.

Above all else, please know, WE SEE YOU. We know how difficult, heart breaking and very often rewarding, your chosen path of living a compassionate life can be. Let us help.

We’ve made every effort to keep retreat costs low. Animal Rescue work doesn’t make one rich, that’s for certain. We hope to be able to offer a few scholarships for those who are unable to afford the retreat. Contact me at Sanjuanjan@gmail.com if you’d be interested in applying for one.

Thank you for joining us in our journey of “Rescuing the Rescuer.”

Compassionately,
Jan

Patricia Smith is the Founder of the Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project and Healthy Caregiving, LLC. As a certified Compassion Fatigue Specialist and Educator with nearly two decades of hands-on experience, she writes, speaks, and facilitates trainings in service of those who care for others in all of the helping professions.

Patricia's extensive work in the field of compassion fatigue began in 2002. As the training & development manager for the Humane Society Silicon Valley, she created a critical shelter-wide compassion fatigue training for employees that proved successful in increasing the staff's well-being and work satisfaction. With the implementation of this project, Patricia recognized the dire need for resources about compassion fatigue and self-care amongst caregivers across the helping professions. She founded the Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project that same year.

​Patricia became a Certified Compassion Fatigue Specialist and Educator in 2003, which led to her presenting workshops nationwide as a Compassion Fatigue consultant for American Humane, the premiere national organization advocating for children and animal rights. Since then, Patricia has consulted with hundreds of organizations and presented workshops and seminars worldwide, including working with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in New York to create a nationwide compassion fatigue program for its leadership and staff.

​With a background in journalism, Patricia’s writings have appeared in many publications, including the San Jose Mercury News where she was a correspondent for more than 20 years. Patricia has authored five books on compassion fatigue and self-care. Her seminal book, To Weep for a Stranger: Compassion Fatigue in Caregiving, is a comprehensive look at compassion fatigue, its causes and symptoms, and how to begin the healing process. Her follow-up book, Compassion Satisfaction: 50 Steps to Healthy Caregiving, guides readers toward authentic, sustainable self-care and compassion satisfaction.

Her training manuals are used by organizations and individuals across the US:

Healthy Caregiving: A Guide to Recognizing and Managing Compassion Fatigue: Presenter's Guide Level 1

Healthy Caregiving: A Guide to Recognizing and Managing Compassion Fatigue: Student Guide Level 1

Most recently, Patricia joined with veterinary surgeon, Inmaculada Perez Madrigal, to co-author Stress, Compassion Fatigue and Burnout Handling in Veterinary Practice, published by Grupo Asis. The comprehensive look at the veterinary field worldwide brings into focus the challenges the profession now faces. The book is also available through Amazon Spain.

Patricia has received many honors and accolades for her writing and compassion fatigue work, including the 'Excellence in Writing Award' presented by the National League of American Pen Women. Under her direction as Program Director, Ronald McDonald House at Stanford received the 2005 'Best Bets' award for its 'Healing Arts' program; and she has twice been awarded writing scholarships sponsored by the University of Washington as a Helen R. Whiteley Scholar.

In September 2016, Patricia presented a TEDx talk on the subject of compassion fatigue titled How to Manage Compassion Fatigue in Caregiving. You can view all of the talks from this event which was organized around the theme: Quality of Life.