Certification Standards for Compassion Fatigue Educator
The Academy of Traumatology's Commission on Certification and Accreditation will
approve Compassion Fatigue Educator certification status to qualified applicants who have completed a course of study that includes educational and experiential content that results in the applicant being able to meet the following standards:
1. Articulates the developmental history of compassion fatigue including
countertransference, caregiver stress, burnout, vicarious traumatization, and
secondary traumatic stress.
2. Differentiates between compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and
vicarious traumatization.
3. Articulates the unique array of symptoms indigenous to compassion fatigue.
4. Assesses and identifies symptoms of compassion fatigue in self and others.
5. Recognizes compassion fatigue triggers and early warning signs
6. Articulates current theoretical models for the etiology and transmission of
compassion fatigue.
7. Articulates and teaches others the potential effects of traumatic stress upon
systems (marriage, family, workplace, etc).
8. Identifies and utilizes resources and plans for resiliency and prevention for
self and ability to facilitate this plan with others.
9. Knowledge of what is required to create and maintain a self-care plan for self and
others and familiar with the Academy of Traumatology’s Standards of Self Care
for Traumatologists located at
http://www.traumatologyacademy.org/SelfCareStandards.htm.
10. Knowledge of what is required to facilitate a self-care plan for self and others.
11. Knowledge about providing psycho-education on the causes, symptoms,
prevention, and treatment of compassion fatigue.
12. Knowledgeable of and abides by the Academy of Traumatology Standards of
Practice and Ethics located at http://www.traumatologyacademy.org/SOC.html.