Transcending Empathy Fatigue

Mark A. Stebnicki, Ph.D., LCMHC, CRC, DCMHS is a licensed clinical mental health counselor in North Carolina, professor emeritus at East Carolina University, developer, and instructor of the Clinical Military Counseling Certificate (CMCC) program offered through the Telehealth Certificate Institute. He is the author of 11 professional texts and has been a practitioner, counselor educator, and researcher with over 30 years of experience. Dr. Stebnicki's specialty area includes working with civilian and military individuals with traumatic stress, loss, grief, chronic illnesses, and disabilities.

"Being present with people who are revealing stories of pain, loss, trauma, and grief takes a toll on mental health providers. We are challenged to recognize and manage empathy fatigue by incorporating self-care practices in our personal and professional life. In this timely and practical book, Dr. Mark Stebnicki informs us of multiple ways of reducing empathy fatigue and increasing empathy resiliency. This is a book that I highly recommend to students and helping professionals." Gerald Corey, Ed.D., ABPP, Distinguished Visiting Professor of Counseling at the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans "Dr. Mark Stebnicki, the renowned expert on empathy fatigue, has once again written a most relevant book that couldn't be timelier. An ideal resource for practicing mental health clinicians, clinical supervisors, and those training to counsel others, Transcending Empathy Fatigue: Cultivating Empathy Resiliency addresses a topic that weighs heavily on the minds of helping professionals in all specialty areas. The magnitude of the stressors that have traumatized countless people in recent years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, vitriolic politics, the increase in tribalism, hate, and other brazen acts of oppression against minoritized groups, and other person-made disasters, not to mention the increase in natural disasters caused in part by the changing climate, have overwhelmed those in the helping professions. Serving a greater number of clients who are experiencing such severe pain and distress naturally takes a toll and can deplete one's coping resources. Stebnicki has developed an invaluable resource that provides sage guidance for any mental health professional in search of tools and practical strategies to help them not only weather the storm of stressors that tend to erode empathy, but to cultivate optimal levels of wellness and strengthen resilience. I know that this book will be a frequently used resource on my bookshelf!" Michelle Muratori, Ph.D., Lecturer, Counseling and Educational Studies, Johns Hopkins University