Ep. 56: Behind the Front Desk: The Emotional Toll of Veterinary Support Work with Sam Anderkay

Ep. 56: Behind the Front Desk: The Emotional Toll of Veterinary Support Work with Sam Anderkay

In this eye-opening episode of Beyond Compassion Fatigue, I sit down with veterinary receptionist and animal advocate Sam Anderkay to explore the often-overlooked emotional toll carried by veterinary support staff. Sam shares her journey from volunteering at Valley of the Kings Wildlife Sanctuary and Retreat, where she cared for abused and neglected tigers, wolves, bears, and farm animals, to spending nearly eight years on the front lines of veterinary medicine as a customer service representative. We dive into the unique ways compassion fatigue impacts veterinary receptionists, who are often the very first and very last point of contact for distressed and grieving pet parents. Sam opens up about the emotional weight of euthanasia appointments, absorbing client grief, balancing constant multitasking, and the anxiety and depression that nearly pushed her out of the field entirely. We also explore: * The differences between compassion fatigue in wildlife rehabilitation versus veterinary medicine * Why veterinary support staff are often overlooked in mental health conversations * The emotional impact of witnessing client grief day after day * How compassion fatigue affected Sam’s mental health, relationships, and daily functioning * The importance of boundaries, identity outside of work, and sacred time off * The growing movement advocating for veterinary receptionist education and mental health support * Continuing education and professional development as protective factors against burnout * The role of compassion satisfaction in sustaining long-term animal care work * The animals who changed Sam’s life, including a blind tiger named Siva and her beloved German shepherd, Hera Resources: Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com [jen@jenblough.com]. Interested in becoming certified in compassion fatigue? Learn more here [https://www.animalwelfarewellness.com/cfpaw]! Follow on social media:  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/beyondcompassionfatigue/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/beyondcompassionfatigue/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferbloughlpc] Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here [https://www.animalwelfarewellness.com/free-resources].  Visit my free virtual calming room here [https://www.animalwelfarewellness.com/calming-room].  Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=to+save+a+starfish+book&crid=284T71UJAZ7E5&sprefix=to+save+a+star%2Caps%2C140&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-pd-dpltr-ranker_2_14].

Ep. 55: Guided Meditation: Rooted in Strength

Today’s episode of Beyond Compassion Fatigue is a guided meditation designed specifically for those of you in animal care, rescue, welfare, veterinary medicine, and activism to help you regulate your nervous system. This meditation is meant to be listened to in a safe, quiet place where you can fully relax for about ten minutes. So if you’re driving or in the middle of something that requires your full attention, I invite you to come back to this episode when you can truly be present with it. Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com [jen@jenblough.com]. Follow on social media:  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/beyondcompassionfatigue/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/beyondcompassionfatigue/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferbloughlpc] Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here [https://www.animalwelfarewellness.com/free-resources].  Visit my free virtual calming room here [https://www.animalwelfarewellness.com/calming-room].  Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=to+save+a+starfish+book&crid=284T71UJAZ7E5&sprefix=to+save+a+star%2Caps%2C140&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-pd-dpltr-ranker_2_14].

Ep: 54: Two Things Can Be True at Once: Holding Hope and Heartbreak in Animal Welfare

In this episode of Beyond Compassion Fatigue, I explore a powerful mindset shift that can dramatically reduce burnout in animal care, rescue, veterinary medicine, and advocacy: dialectical thinking, also known as both/and thinking. If you’ve ever felt like you had to choose between being hopeful or being realistic, strong or struggling, this episode challenges that belief. We discuss:  * What dialectical (both/and) thinking is and why it matters * How black-and-white thinking fuels compassion fatigue and burnout * Why emotional complexity is not weakness—but resilience * How to hold space for both pain and purpose in your work * A simple, practical way to start using this skill immediately Additional resources:  Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com [jen@jenblough.com]. Follow on social media:  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/beyondcompassionfatigue/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/beyondcompassionfatigue/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferbloughlpc] Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here [https://www.animalwelfarewellness.com/free-resources].  Visit my free virtual calming room here [https://www.animalwelfarewellness.com/calming-room].  Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=to+save+a+starfish+book&crid=284T71UJAZ7E5&sprefix=to+save+a+star%2Caps%2C140&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-pd-dpltr-ranker_2_14].

Ep. 53: From PTSD to Purpose with Lisa Beggio

In this episode of Beyond Compassion Fatigue, I sit down with Lisa Beggio, Executive Director of Columbia Humane Society, to discuss her deeply personal journey through primary trauma, PTSD, and healing after surviving a life-threatening dog attack while working in animal rescue. Lisa shares what it was like to return to shelter work after trauma, the reality of PTSD triggers in a field built around exposure to suffering, and how therapy helped her reclaim her life and career. Together, we explore the intersection of compassion fatigue and PTSD, the importance of speaking openly about mental health in animal welfare, and why protecting the people who protect animals must become a priority. This conversation is raw, honest, and hopeful—and an important reminder that healing is possible. We discuss: * How trauma can reshape your nervous system and identity * What PTSD symptoms looked like after Lisa’s dog attack * Why returning to work required intentional exposure and support * The power of therapy, accountability, and learning trauma tools * Breaking stigma around mental health in animal welfare * How leadership can normalize self-care and psychological safety * Finding purpose and meaning after trauma * Why “being selfish” is sometimes essential for survival in helping professions Resources mentioned: Columbia Humane Society website [https://columbiahumane.com/] Columbia Humane Society Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/columbiahumane] Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com [jen@jenblough.com]. Follow on social media:  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/beyondcompassionfatigue/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/beyondcompassionfatigue/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferbloughlpc] Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here [https://www.animalwelfarewellness.com/free-resources].  Visit my free virtual calming room here [https://www.animalwelfarewellness.com/calming-room].  Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=to+save+a+starfish+book&crid=284T71UJAZ7E5&sprefix=to+save+a+star%2Caps%2C140&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-pd-dpltr-ranker_2_14].

Ep. 52: Internal Risk Factors for Compassion Fatigue

Last week, we explored the external risk factors of compassion fatigue—the systems, environments, and conditions surrounding animal welfare work. This week, we turn inward. Compassion fatigue doesn’t just come from what you’re exposed to, it’s also shaped by who you are: your personality, your experiences, and the traits that likely drew you to this work in the first place. This episode takes an honest look at the internal factors that can increase vulnerability to compassion fatigue, without blame or shame.  We talk about: * Why empathy and compassion are both essential traits as well as risk factors * The difference between empathy fatigue and compassion fatigue * How being other-directed can quietly lead to self-neglect * The impact of tying your identity and self-worth to your work * What it means to be a highly sensitive person (HSP) in animal welfare * How past trauma can both motivate and increase vulnerability * Why compassion fatigue develops through the interaction of internal and external factors Resources & Links * Listen to last week’s episode on external risk factors [https://beyondcompassionfatigue.podbean.com/e/external/?token=a108fae40544122fb529b1f05bd76781] * Sign up for my free monthly newsletter [https://www.animalwelfarewellness.com/contact-8-1] for tips on managing compassion fatigue