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Compassion Fatigue Worksheet

Separate compassion fatigue from burnout and plan for each

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For helpers — therapists, nurses, teachers, caregivers and parents. Compassion fatigue is the cost of caring for people in pain; burnout is the cost of the conditions you do it in. This sheet separates the two and builds a plan for each.

Compassion fatigue: I carry other people's pain home with me (0–10)
none
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
most
Burnout: the workload, systems or lack of support wear me down (0–10)
none
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
most
Compassion satisfaction: the work still gives me meaning (0–10)
none
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
most
Stories, images or people I can't stop thinking about after work
What drains me most in caring for others
What still nourishes me in this role
My end-of-day transition ritual (how I put the role down)
Where I get support for what I hold (supervision, peers, my own therapy)
One limit I need to set on my caring this week
One change I need to ask the system for (workload, schedule, cover)

References & further reading

Conceptual background and further reading, not validation of this handout. Named instruments and methods belong to their original authors; custom prompts and trackers are not validated versions of those instruments.

  • Figley, C. R. (Ed.). (1995). Compassion Fatigue: Coping with Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder in Those Who Treat the Traumatized. Brunner/Mazel.
  • Stamm, B. H. (2010). The Concise ProQOL Manual (2nd ed.). ProQOL.org.
© 2026 TherapistAssist · For clinical use · Not a substitute for assessment
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About this worksheet

Helpers often call everything 'burnout', but the professional quality of life literature (Figley; Stamm) separates two costs of caring work. Compassion fatigue comes from exposure to other people's suffering — carrying their stories home, intrusive images, feeling numb. Burnout comes from the conditions of the work — caseload, paperwork, lack of support. Compassion satisfaction, the meaning the work still gives, sits alongside both. This worksheet rates the three separately, then plans an end-of-day transition ritual, where the helper gets support for what they hold, one limit on caring this week, and one change to ask the system for.

When to use it

  • Therapist and clinician burnout, including in supervision and consultation groups.
  • Nurses, physicians, first responders and social workers.
  • Family caregivers of a sick, disabled or aging relative.
  • Teachers and parents of children with high needs.

How to use it

  1. 1
    Rate the three separately

    Compassion fatigue and burnout call for different responses.

  2. 2
    Name what still nourishes

    Compassion satisfaction protects against both and is easy to overlook.

  3. 3
    Build a transition ritual

    A consistent way to put the role down at the end of the day.

  4. 4
    Ask the system

    Individual limits help, but some changes have to come from workload or scheduling.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between compassion fatigue and burnout?+

Compassion fatigue comes from exposure to others' pain and can include intrusive thoughts or numbness. Burnout comes from workload and working conditions and builds more gradually. Many helpers experience both.

Can therapists use this for themselves?+

Yes. It works well for personal reflection, supervision and peer consultation groups.

Is this worksheet free?+

Yes. Free printable PDF. Sign in to TherapistAssist to send as a secure client link.

Worksheet — Compassion Fatigue Worksheet — provided by TherapistAssist for clinical use. Not a substitute for assessment or treatment.