Rekindling: Compassion Fatigue Solutions for Animal Workers
270 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 88 ratingsIf you work with animals in veterinary medicine or animal welfare and sometimes feel the effects of compassion fatigue then this podcast is for YOU! Your host, Julie Squires, Certified Compassion Fatigue Specialist and Life Coach is all about helping you feel better by teaching you the tools you need to balance your work and your life and to have exceptional mental and emotional health so you can continue to help animals and make a difference in their lives.
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Episodes
Ep# 268 Conscious Compartmentalization
April 25, 2024 04:00 - 17 minutes - 24.1 MB"Compartmentalization is a defense mechanism in which people mentally separate conflicting thoughts, emotions, or experiences to avoid the discomfort of contradiction" according to Psychology Today. I believe compartmentalization can be an effective coping strategy for people who work in the emotionally charged fields of vet med, animal welfare and lab animal research. But it has to be conscious. Listen and learn what I mean by that.
Ep# 268 Mindset & CBT
April 18, 2024 04:00 - 25 minutes - 35.6 MBUnderstanding the interconnectedness of your thoughts, feelings and behavior is the key to self-awareness and empowerment. We all just want others to behave differently so we can feel better. That's the long way.
Ep#267 Different Brains: A Conversation with Nicole Clausen CSSGB, CCFP
April 11, 2024 04:00 - 40 minutes - 55.5 MBNeurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits. (Harvard Health Publishing) Understanding that not everyone's brain works the same is the crux of this interview I have with Nicole Clausen, founder of Veterinary Care Logistics, an inventory management company. You can find out more about Nicole's company, Vet...
Ep# 266 "Just" A Mouse
April 04, 2024 04:00 - 33 minutes - 45.3 MBEuthanizing animals brings up a plethora of emotions including compassion, guilt and doubt. What your relationship is with the animal also tends to dictate what emotional path you may go down. Pet owner, veterinary professional and animal welfare personnel may all feel a different level or attachment or detachment. But what about lab animal professionals? These folks work with research animals to find cures, therapies, discoveries and innovations that extend lives to humans and animals. So h...
Ep# 265 Professionals Don't Cry...Or Do They?
March 28, 2024 04:00 - 16 minutes - 23.1 MBThis week I'm sharing two of my favorite readings. One's that speaks to why as an animal professional you need to make space for grief. This is from Dr. Rachel Remen's "Kitchen Table Wisdom" book and this chapter is aptly named "Professionals Don't Cry". Also in the episode I read from John Roedel's "Remedy", poem #37. Registration is currently open for my 6-month online group for women veterinarians, Living A Life You Love. This group runs April-September and you can get all the info her...
Ep# 264 Should You Try Meds?
March 21, 2024 04:00 - 19 minutes - 26.3 MBI recently received an email asking me to do a podcast about how to decide whether or not to take meds for mental health issues. So I put my thoughts together in addition to a client testimonial of one of my 1:1 clients who did try meds and what their experience was.
Ep# 263 4 Years Later: Reflections on the Pandemic
March 14, 2024 04:00 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MB4 years ago this week, the work came to a halt as COVID-19 spread across the globe creating havoc, chaos and a tremendous loss. As someone who cares for animals, you stepped up in such a profound way to figure out how to continue to provide care for animals. It's time to stop and reflect on what we learned and also what we've forgotten as we've resumed our lives post-pandemic.
Ep # 262 Your Money Mindset
March 07, 2024 05:00 - 19 minutes - 18.3 MBWhat you think about money is the basis for your relationship with money. Most people who don't have the financial results that they want can usually trace it back to a limiting belief they have about money based on how they were raised around money and what society has told them about what they can earn, save and/or spend. This episode will help you uncover what your current thinking about money is and how you can change it. I mention Dr. Grace Kim from Richer Life DVM, here is her conta...
Ep# 261 Rocks, Pebbles and Sand
February 29, 2024 05:00 - 12 minutes - 11.5 MBLife can get crazy busy and the things that matter the most can inadvertently get lost. This week I want to share with you an exercise that can help you reassess, redecide and recommit to what matters most and also what matters least (as well as all the stuff in between!).
Ep# 260 Patience
February 22, 2024 05:00 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBAs a New Yorker, we're not known for our patience and I'm not exception. I work hard on this and had an experience recently that allowed me to see how far I've come. I think patience can best be described by this quote, "Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you have in your mind."
Ep # 259 The Power of Inquiry with Dr. Stef Skupin
February 15, 2024 05:00 - 49 minutes - 45.1 MBWe all have tons of thoughts and beliefs that we just take as true, never stopping to question any of them. And these same thoughts and beliefs are the cause of a tremendous amount of suffering. Most include the word "should". They should, we should, I should and you should. Rarely does "shoulding" feel good or lead to connection. Inquiry is a practice of self-realization whereby we explore what is at the root of our suffering, our mind. When we are willing to look at, question and see th...
Ep# 258 Entitlement
February 08, 2024 05:00 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBWe've likely all felt entitled from time to time. Entitlement is when we feel like we inherently deserve something, special privileges or have the right to having something. The promotion, respect from others and lighting speed wifi to name a few. So here's what to do about it in ourselves and in our workplaces if it's rearing it's ugly head at work.
Ep# 257 The 3 P's of Pessimism
February 01, 2024 05:00 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MBWe've all had those moments where it feels like the walls are caving in on us and we can't muster an optimistic attitude. Pessimism consists of 3 distinct attributes (the 3 P's) that once you are aware of, you can use to unwind yourself from it's negative grip.
Ep# 256 When Animal Lovers Become Human Haters
January 25, 2024 05:00 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBWe're drawn to working with animals for many altruistic reasons. Then why can we be so cruel to our fellow humans sometimes? In this episode I'm talking about making generous assumptions about our fellow humans and using the Socratic method of questioning when we do want to speak out.
Ep# 255 Your Nervous System with Therapist Allison Johanson
January 18, 2024 05:00 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MBIn today's episode I'm speaking to therapist Allison Johanson about the nervous system. Understanding the nervous system has been a really important part of my personal development and the work I'm doing with my private clients. Today we are talking about Polyvagal Theory! You can find out more about Allison at her website: https://www.supportedchange.com/ Allison's resource, Connecting Deep: A Guide to Building Resilience Through Reflection https://subscribepage.io/FOdjy3
Ep# 254 The Two C's: Curiosity & Criticism
January 11, 2024 05:00 - 19 minutes - 18.2 MBCuriosity and criticism are two opposing forces. One leads to self-discovery, the other to self-judgment, condemnation and staying small in your life. This episode will teach you all the reasons and benefits of choosing curiosity over criticism.
Ep# 253 The Year Ahead
January 04, 2024 05:00 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBAfter last week's episode you've likely been itching to start looking ahead and thinking about the kind of year you want 2024 to be. As with last week's episode, Year Review, this episode is complete with 10 questions to ask yourself and my answers to those same questions. You can get those questions right here.
Ep # 252 Year Review
December 28, 2023 05:00 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MBAt the end of the year It's customary to reflect on the previous year. Look at your wins, your losses, your challenges and your achievements as a way to create closure for all that 2023 was. In Rekindling fashion I've created 10 questions for you to ask yourself. In this episode I walk you through my answers. You can find the 10 questions for your Year Review right here.
Ep# 251 Nervous System Co-Regulation
December 21, 2023 05:00 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBIn working with animals you understand the power of the nervous system. When an animal is anxious, you intuitively know how to calm them using your own balanced energy. In essence, this is co-regulation and you have the ability to do this not only with animals, but with people too.
Ep# 250 Grief And The Holidays
December 14, 2023 05:00 - 18 minutes - 17.1 MBThe holiday season often conjures images of joy, togetherness, and celebration. However, for many, this time can also serve as a brutal reminder of loss and the ache of grief. Whether it's the absence of a loved one, the strain of fractured relationships, or the weight of unmet expectations, the holidays can magnify the complexities of grief. Please join me on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 @ 7 pm EST for a webinar I'm calling "Grieving Together: Support During The Holidays" Registration lin...
Ep# 249 Veterinary Social Work with Emily Carveth
December 07, 2023 05:00 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MBToday I'm speaking with Veterinary Social Worker and therapist Emily Carveth about all things vet med and other challenges in animal organizations. You'll want to hear this convo! Emily's VSW website, BOOP Veterinary Social Work Consulting: https://boopveterinaryconsulting.com/ Emily's therapy website (practice is called Spoken Balance): https://www.spokenbalance.com/emily Instagram: @boopveterinaryconsulting Emily's mentor, Tawanna Woolfolk of Sacred Ground Institute: https://w...
Ep #248 Holiday Intentions
November 30, 2023 05:00 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBWe're now officially in the holiday season! You get to decide what kind of holiday season to have. If you approach it with dread, it's not going to be enjoyable. But with intention you can decide what you want you might want to let go of that isn't bringing you joy during the holiday season or what you might want to start doing that does bring you joy. Here are the 10 questions I created to help you create the holiday season you crave. 1.What holiday traditions bring me the most joy, a...
Ep# 247 Focusing On What's Good
November 23, 2023 05:00 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBRealizing what's good in our life doesn't actually come naturally. Seeing what's wrong does. You can thank your brain for that! It's just our negativity bias getting in the way of us experiencing more joy. The great news is that you can (and must) override your negativity bias by intentionally looking for, recognizing and dwelling in what's good in your life. Here's where you can get the 30 prompts to help you focus on what's good. https://bit.ly/fowg
Ep# 246 The Power of Journaling
November 16, 2023 05:00 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBThe simple act of putting pen to paper has enormous benefits to one's mental and emotional health. So why do we all fight it so much? In this episode I'll discuss: -proven benefits to journaling -different ways to journal -obstacles to journaling -ways to overcome those obstacles By the end of this episode, you'll be running to get your journal....and starting to reap all the benefits that come with this simple, accessible and affordable practice of self-care.
Ep # 245 The Other C Word: Conflict (Interview with Angie Childers)
November 09, 2023 05:00 - 48 minutes - 67.1 MBMany animal workers are conflict avoidant. We have deep-seated fears about conflict and therefore avoid it at all costs. What ensues is triangular conversations (she said/he said) that keep our relationships and our personal growth stuck. Today I interview Angie Childers, Life Coach specializing in Leadership, Team Building and Communication. You don't want to miss this one!!! Find out more about Angie at her website https://www.enlighteneddetour.com/ Her podcast, Detour Insights can be ...
Ep # 244 Wanting To Be Liked
November 02, 2023 04:00 - 30 minutes - 41.5 MBWe all want to be liked but few of us really understand what we stand to lose when we prioritize wanting to be liked over being who we are. The truth is that when you are authentic and are living in integrity, some people won't like you. Decide whose opinion really does matter in your life and whose isn't really that important anyway. This episode will teach you so much about finding the courage to be disliked.
Ep # 243 Disenfranchised Grief
October 26, 2023 04:00 - 38 minutes - 52.6 MBThere's a name for grief we don't feel like we're allowed to have or that is not acknowledged by society, it's called disenfranchised grief. It's what I've felt this week in the wake of the loss of Esther The Wonder Pig. I never "met" Esther and yet feel the deep sorrow as the result of her passing. I'm sure many of her 1.5 million followers do too. Disenfranchised grief is what you may feel for a patient of yours that dies, an animal that gets adopted from your shelter or a research animal ...
Ep# 242 Social Media & Mental Health
October 19, 2023 04:00 - 28 minutes - 39 MBI believe social media should come with a warning similar to what alcohol and cigarettes do. CAUTION: Engaging with this could be harmful to your mental health. Especially when we are already feeling vulnerable due to burnout and compassion fatigue that comes with your work of helping animals. Awareness is imperative. Know yourself and when it's not a good idea to engage and curate your feed so that it's content, people and groups that lift you up.
Ep# 241 Embracing Unproductivity
October 12, 2023 04:00 - 30 minutes - 42.5 MBIn this age of hustle culture, overwhelm and anxiety, it's no wonder we're burning out in record numbers. We've equated being "productive" with success. I've got news for you, the two have nothing to do with each other! I want to invite you to consider "unproductivity", the concept of resting, doing leisure activities and perhaps just goofing off. You'll have to fight your inner critic though because it's been gathering opinions of others for decades about how if you're not being productive,...
Ep # 240 Managing Guilt
October 05, 2023 04:00 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBGuilt is an emotion that is no stranger to animal workers. Those that work to improve the lives of animals can be exceptionally hard on themselves and often find themselves wrestling with feelings of guilt. And guilt can be one of those emotions that we need some strategies to help loosen it's grip on our psyche.
Ep# 239 Good Enough
September 28, 2023 04:00 - 24 minutes - 34 MBIn a culture that for women glorifies perfection, it can feel unnerving to consider that our actions or ourselves could be "good enough". For most women (and some men) that is an impossible concept to make peace with as they constantly beat themselves up to do better and better. But "good enough" isn't mediocrity, instead its the space between unrealistic and realistic. September 29, 2023 is the last day to register for my 6 month group for women veterinarians, Living A Life You Love. Cli...
Emotional vs. Mental Health
September 21, 2023 12:49 - 24 minutes - 33.9 MBWe often use the terms emotional and mental health interchangeably but they are actually different. They can influence and impact each other but understanding the difference can allow you to seek the appropriate type of support and resources based on your specific needs. Living a Life You Love, my 6-month program for women veterinarians is now OPEN for registration. It only opens twice a year and won't be again until 2024. Click here for all the details. Also, here's a wonderful Feeling...
Ep# 237 Why You Need A "Moai"
September 14, 2023 04:00 - 39 minutes - 54.6 MBI'm an introvert. I love being by myself but too much of anything isn't good, including alone time. We need community. We need each other. We need to feel safe with others that we feel connected to and a part of. In Okinawa, Japan they have a term "moai" which refers to a small social group that supports one in mental, emotional, physical and even financial ways. It's one of the reasons Okinawa is a "Blue Zone" and is home to more centenarians that almost anywhere else on earth. I think w...
Ep# 236 Questions To Ask When You're Down
September 07, 2023 04:00 - 34 minutes - 47.4 MBWhen you're feeling down about something you can get lost in a way of seeing things that offers you no relief. These automatic thoughts will keep you stuck unless you engage with them and start a two-way conversation. Your brain CANNOT have the last say! To join my e-inspiration list and to know when Living A Life You Love opens, text REKINDLE to 66866. Here are the 11 questions: 1.Have I already decided on this issue? 2.What meaning have I attached to the situation? Is that true? W...
Ep #235 Self-Belief and Internal Validation
September 02, 2023 10:36 - 33 minutes - 45.5 MBWe are all socialized to rely on others for approval and validation and that makes us highly reliant on the opinions, feedback and actions of others in order to feel supported and good about ourselves. That presents a big problem when others don't say or do what we want. This episode will help you understand why we are all so reliant on external validation and how to become your own champion of belief in yourself and support.
Ep# 234 How Teeny, Tiny Frogs Can Help With Burnout: Interview with Coach Kelly Mullins
August 24, 2023 04:00 - 59 minutes - 81.8 MBToday I interview former Animal Care Director and Life Coach Kelly Mullins. Kelly and I met at Catskill Animal Sanctuary (CAS) where at times she was responsible for the lives and wellbeing of over 300 animals, the animal care staff and the buildings and grounds. She has her own unique experience of burnout and grief associated with both her personal life and her work in animal welfare. Now she's coaching others to help them find joy and meaning in their lives and perhaps some teeny, tiny fr...
Ep# 233 Reasons or Excuses?
August 17, 2023 04:00 - 20 minutes - 27.9 MBReasons and excuses may by definition appear very similar but there's one thing that vastly separates them, their consequences. Understanding whether something is a reason or an excuse can change what you do next. Text REKINDLE to 66866 to join my Monday and Friday e-inspiration list!
Ep# 232 What Are You FOR?
August 10, 2023 04:00 - 20 minutes - 27.8 MBThis episode was inspired by a simple quote of Mother Theresa's. She said, "I'm not against war, I'm FOR peace." Every since I heard that quote I can't stop thinking about it's application to work, life and basically everything. Do you know what you're FOR vs. AGAINST? I didn't until a really thought about it. Join me for this insight. To join my email list text REKINDLE to 66866
Ep# 231 The Importance of Self-Awareness
August 03, 2023 04:00 - 24 minutes - 33.3 MBPerhaps the most important element of emotional intelligence is self-awareness, the ability to understand our feelings, actions, triggers, limitations and strengths. The more self-aware we are the better humans we are, it's that simple. Check out this episode where I dive into the what, why and the how of self-awareness. To join my email list, text REKINDLE to 66866.
Ep # 230 Peloton Belief: Belief Without Evidence
July 27, 2023 14:02 - 23 minutes - 31.6 MB10 years ago I decided to invest in a Peloton bike. It was before anyone had one, I'm an OG! How could I believe in something and be willing put down hard-earned cash on something that wasn't even out on the market yet? Faith. Believing in something without any evidence. You can choose to either believe it will work out well or you can choose to believe it won't. I'll always choose the former, even if I'm wrong.
Ep# 229 Being The Hero Of Your Story
July 20, 2023 04:00 - 34 minutes - 47.1 MBWhen faced with difficulty and challenges we can either be the victim of our circumstances or the hero. And there may be time you truly were the victim but we can always change the way we tell our story. You survived what happened in the past and you're surviving now, that's heroic. This is powerful work that you can do on anything you're struggling with now or things from your past.
Ep# 228 What Could Go Wrong
July 13, 2023 04:00 - 21 minutes - 29.3 MBWe all react sometimes when unexpected things happen. It can be very valuable to think about what could go wrong with a big event or important situation you might have going on in your life. It's important to think about it not to fixate on all the "bad" things that could happen but to make space in your mind for all the possible outcomes. Because if you do, you give yourself the ability to respond vs. react. And responding almost always has a better outcome for you and everyone involved.
Ep# 227 Self-Talk Jar
July 06, 2023 04:00 - 25 minutes - 35.5 MBYour self-concept is a collection of the perceptions you have about yourself. What you think about yourself informs who you believe yourself to be. Confidence and self-confidence are all based on what you tell yourself repeatedly. Our self-talk if not steered toward the positive can lead us to a negative self-image, lots of anxiety and lack of belief in ourselves. The Self-Talk Jar is a tool you can use to shift and change your self-talk. Here's the handout to help you make your own Se...
Ep# 226 Delaying Joy
June 29, 2023 04:00 - 23 minutes - 31.8 MBDoes this sound familiar? When I finish this class/lose the weight/hire the associate/the kids go back to school....then I'll be happy, feel relaxed and be able to chill. The problem with this way of thinking is that 1.) it relegates your emotions to the circumstances of your life (which is not true) and 2.) it delays your joy to the future that keeps it perpetually out of reach. In this episode I will teach you how to stop postponing the joy that's available to you right here, right now....
Ep# 225 My Wish For You
June 22, 2023 04:00 - 19 minutes - 26.4 MBThis week I had a birthday and while I'm so grateful to be alive and in good health, I also feel so much gratitude for you. Those that give of themselves and make many, many sacrifices to improve animals lives or deaths are what I call unsung heroes. Please allow me to just express a little of what is in my heart. I even have a poem for you and about you. Listen in!
Ep# 224 What You Can't Fix: Other People
June 15, 2023 04:00 - 30 minutes - 41.3 MBI know you're a "fixer" for animals but what happens when humans around you are experiencing emotional pain from grief, anxiety, depression or heartbreak? You're naturally tendency is to try and fix them and you can't (and they don't need you to!). There are things you can do for people to support, validate and love them. This episode is that! Text REKINDLE to 66866 to receive my weekly emails.
Ep# 223 Positive Absence
June 08, 2023 04:00 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MBWe tend to not notice when we are well until we are sick. We tend to not notice having a full staff of employees until we don't. We tend to not pay much attention to our pet behaving until they misbehave. Ultimately we tend to not pay attention to what's NOT happening in any moment, in other words, the absence of difficulty, challenges and hardship. That is positive absence and it's so worth paying attention to. Let me explain how!
Ep# 222 The G-Word:Guilt
June 01, 2023 04:00 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBGuilt is like a heavy backpack strapped to your shoulders, filled with stones of past actions and regrets. Carrying it around weighs you down, making each step feel burdensome. It tugs at your every movement, preventing you from moving forward freely. Only by acknowledging and unloading the stones of guilt can you lighten your load and walk with a renewed sense of freedom and self-compassion.
Ep# 221 Window Of Tolerance
May 25, 2023 04:00 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBThe Window of Tolerance(WOT) was created by Dr. Dan Siegel as the optimal zone in which a person would be able to function and deal with day-to-day stress most effectively. It is the optimal arousal state in which we feel our emotions are tolerable and we can manage the experience we are in. When our nervous system gets activated and our brain goes into survival mode and we will often go outside of our WOT to either a hyper-arousal state (anxiety, irritable, overwhelmed) or a hypo-arousal st...
Ep # 220 Purpose and Passion
May 18, 2023 04:00 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBFor animal workers purpose and passion go hand in hand. When we are aligned with our purpose we can't help but also feel the passion that comes with living out what we believe we are here to do. But some things can get in the way. What other people might think, whether or not we believe we can make a living while living our purpose and whether or not the world needs what we believe we are here to give. I'll explore all of these things and more in this episode! To join my email list, te...