Learning to Breathe and Laugh at Kurn Hattin
January 25, 2012 | Westminster, Vermont – Caring for another person whether it is a family member or a child at a residential home can be stressful and exhausting. Recognizing and managing what’s called Compassion Fatigue is the focus of this year’s all staff workshop being facilitated by Kurn Hattin Homes’ Director of Counseling, Jennifer Jacobs.
The staff is meeting over the course of several weeks during the year to discuss healthy care giving. We are sharing stories of how to support ourselves and others in order to give the best of care to the children. For those of us not involved in the direct care of the children, it is an eye opener and a real heightened respect for the teachers, counselors and houseparents who dedicate their lives to educate, heal, and raise the children at the Homes. It is also quite cathartic and useful for everyone because we all have at one time cared for another person in some capacity. It’s a really great topic and everyone has something to share. The staff appreciate having Kurn Hattin offer training that helps us do our jobs happier and healthier.
Pictured is Jennifer Jacobs, Director of Counseling at Kurn Hattin Homes with a staff group during a Compassion Fatigue workshop.
Kurn Hattin Homes is a year-round, charitable home and school for in-need and at-risk boys and girls, ages 6-15, from throughout the northeast.