Anna B. Baranowsky, Ph.D., C.Psych.

CEO
J. Eric Gentry, Ph.D., Consulting Director
Maureen Gold, Training Coordinator
45 Sheppard Ave. E., Suite 419
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M2N 5W9
E-mail: [email protected]

Web: www.psychink.com

Phone: (416) 229-1477 ext 335 Fax (416) 229-9882

...
Compassion Fatigue Specialist Training
Pre-workshop Materials
Welcome to the Traumatology Institute Training Curriculum (TITC) CFST Course TI-207
In preparation to attend TI-207 Compassion Fatigue Specialist 2-day training please complete all of the
materials included in this document and bring them to the first day of training.
Individual scores will not be shared with the group. However, learning about the scoring system and
discussing the meaning of each test will be enhanced by your personal experience and questions that
you bring to that segment of the training.
Content
Measures and scoring:
1. ProQOL Professional Quality of Life: Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue (ProQOL) Version 5
(Stamm, 2009)
2. TRS: Trauma Recovery Scale (Gentry, 1996, 1998)
3. Silencing Response Scale (Baranowsky, 2011)
4. Global Check Set (Baranowsky & Gentry, 2010)
5. Index of Clinical Stress (Abel, 1991)
Mission Statement instructions
Letter from The Great Supervisor
On the second day of training, we will be conducting an exercise that requires a video camera with
play back screen (some smart phones, iphones or ipads work well for this purpose).
Anna B. Baranowsky
Ph.D.,C.Psych.
CEO, Traumatology Institute
Maureen Gold,
Training Coordinator, Traumatology Institute

COMPASSION FATIGUE PRE-WORKSHOP MATERIALS

COMPASSION FATIGUE ASSESSMENT PROFILE
1. Professional Quality of Life: Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue (ProQOL)
Version 5 (Stamm, 2009)
Measures
Based on your responses, your personal scores are below. If you have any concerns, you should discuss them with
a physical or mental health care professional.
Compassion Satisfaction
Compassion satisfaction is about the pleasure you derive from being able to do your work well. For example, you
may feel like it is a pleasure to help others through your work. You may feel positively about your colleagues or
your ability to contribute to the work setting or even the greater good of society. Higher scores on this scale
represent a greater satisfaction related to your ability to be an effective caregiver in your job.
The average score is 50 (SD 10; alpha scale reliability .88). About 25% of people score higher than 57 and about
25% of people score below 43. If you are in the higher range, you probably derive a good deal of professional
satisfaction from your position. If your scores are below 40, you may either find problems with your job, or there
may be some other reasonfor example, you might derive your satisfaction from activities other than your job.
Burnout
Most people have an intuitive idea of what burnout is. From the research perspective, burnout is one of the
elements of compassion fatigue. It is associated with feelings of hopelessness and difficulties in dealing with work
or in doing your job effectively. These negative feelings usually have a gradual onset. They can reflect the feeling
that your efforts make no difference, or they can be associated with a very high workload or a non-supportive work
environment. Higher scores on this scale mean that you are at higher risk for burnout.
The average score on the burnout scale is 50 (SD 10; alpha scale reliability .75). About 25% of people score above
57 and about 25% of people score below 43. If your score is below 18, this probably reflects positive feelings about
your ability to be effective in your work. If you score above 57 you may wish to think about what at work makes
you feel like you are not effective in your position. Your score may reflect your mood; perhaps you were having a
bad day or are in need of some time off. If the high score persists or if it is reflective of other worries, it may be
a cause for concern.
Secondary Traumatic Stress_
The second component of Compassion Fatigue (CF) is secondary traumatic stress (STS). It is about your workrelated, secondary exposure to extremely or traumatically stressful events. Developing problems due to exposure
to others trauma is somewhat rare but does happen to many people who care for those who have experienced
extremely or traumatically stressful events. For example, you may repeatedly hear stories about the traumatic
things that happen to other people, commonly called Vicarious Traumatization. You may see or provide treatment
to people who have experienced horrific events. If your work puts you directly in the path of danger, due to your
work as a soldier or civilian working in military medicine personnel, this is not secondary exposure; your exposure is
primary. However, if you are exposed to others traumatic events as a result of your work, such as providing care to
casualties or for those in a military medical rehabilitation facility, this is secondary exposure. The symptoms of STS
are usually rapid in onset and associated with a particular event. They may include being afraid, having difficulty
sleeping, having images of the upsetting event pop into your mind, or avoiding things that remind you of the event.
The average score on this scale is 50 (SD 10; alpha scale reliability .81). About 25% of people score below 43 and
about 25% of people score above 57. If your score is above 57, you may want to take some time to think about
what at work may be frightening to you or if there is some other reason for the elevated score. While higher
scores do not mean that you do have a problem, they are an indication that you may want to examine how you
feel about your work and your work environment. You may wish to discuss this with your supervisor, a colleague,
or a health care professional.
B. Hudnall Stamm, 2009. Professional Quality of Life: Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue Version 5 (ProQOL).
/www.isu.edu/~bhstamm or www.proqol.org. This test may be freely copied as long as (a) author is credited, (b) no changes are
made, and (c) it is not sold.

Scoring
In this section, you will score your test and then you can compare your score to the interpretation below.
Scoring
1. Be certain you respond to all items.
2. Go to items 1, 4, 15, 17 and 29 and reverse your score. For example, if you scored the item 1,
write a 5 beside it. W e ask you to reverse these scores because we have learned that the test
works better if you reverse these scores.

You Wrote
1
2
3
4
5

Change To
5
4
3
2
1

To find your score on Compassion Satisfaction, add your scores on questions 3, 6, 12, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27,
30.
The Sum of my Compassion
Satisfaction question was

So my score equals

My level of Compassion
Satisfaction

22 or less
Between 23 and 41
42 or more

43 or less
Around 50
57 or more

Low
Average
High

To find your score on Burnout, add your scores questions 1, 4, 8, 10, 15, 17, 19, 21, 26 and 29. Find your score
on the table below.
The Sum of my Burnout
questions

So my score equals

My level of Burnout

22 or less
Between 23 and 41
42 or more

43 or less
Around 50
57 or more

Low
Average
High

To find your score on Secondary Traumatic Stress, add your scores on questions 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 23, 25,
28. Find your score on the table below.
The Sum of my Secondary
Traumatic Stress questions

So my score equals

My level of Secondary
Traumatic Stress

22 or less
Between 23 and 41
42 or more

43 or less
Around 50
57 or more

Low
Average
High

B. Hudnall Stamm, 2009. Professional Quality of Life: Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue Version 5 (ProQOL).
/www.isu.edu/~bhstamm or www.proqol.org. This test may be freely copied as long as (a) author is credited, (b) no changes are
made, and (c) it is not sold.

2. Trauma Recovery Scale (Gentry, 1996, 1998)

Measures
PART I: Respondent's belief whether or not they meet Criterion A. (DSM-IV) for PTSD. This
refers to whether they have been exposed directly or indirectly to a traumatic incident.
PART II: History of traumatic experiences
PART III: Relative recovery and stabilization from traumatic experiences.
Scoring
PARTS I & II do not require scoring.
PART III: Take the mean of the two answers for item #5 and add to the scores on all other
items. Divide by ten and you will arrive at a mean score. If score is < 50 then significant
traumatic stress; If score is > 75 then significant recovery (or minimal traumatic stress).
3. Silencing Response Scale (Baranowsky, 1996, 1998 )
Measures
The silencing response
Scoring
To score total all response scores to arrive at the sum of scores.
High risk = 95 - 150; Moderate risk = 41 - 94; Some risk = 21 - 40; Minimal risk = 0 - 20.
4. Global Check Set (Baranowsky & Gentry, 2010)
Global Check Set (GCS) (Optional):
This scale was developed as rapid check of multiple key areas of psychological wellness. There are no
psychometric standards or official scoring norms for this scale and hence it is not to be used for diagnostic
purposes.
However, it is a useful tool to bring to attention potential problem areas for further investigation. It
covers seven areas which include:
Depression (d) (# 2, 9, 16, 21, 28)
Substance Use (a) (# 1, 8, 15, 20, 27)
Suicidality (s) (# 3, 10, 17, 22, 29)
PTSD (p) (# 4, 11, 23, 30, 34)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (x) (# 5, 12, 24, 31, 35)
Somatization (i) (# 6, 13, 18, 25, 32)
Dissociation (c) (# 7, 14, 19, 26, 33)
Scoring is achieved through a total sum of scores as listed on scale items (Total GCS Score).
For greater clarification total the sub-scores of the subscales above (d, a, s, p, x, i, c).
Scores of 6 or higher in any of the subscales require further investigation
Scores of 9 or higher suggest a noteworthy risk factor

Any elevations above 3 on the

Suicidality scale will require closer
examination
Higher Scores signify greater psychological distress - compare scores over time.

A Total Score of greater than or equal to > 70 = represents significant psychological distress.
This scale is not to be used for diagnostic purposes.
Scoring
Total sum of scores as listed on scale items (Total GSC Score)
For greater clarification total sub-scores for subscales above (d, a, s, p, x, i, c)
Higher Scores signify greater psychological distress - compare scores over time
Scores of > 70 = significant psychological symptomatology
This scale is not to be used for diagnostic purposes.

5. Index of Clinical Stress (Abel, 1991)

Measures
Subjective individual stress
Scoring
Reverse scores for Items 5, 8, 11, 13
Add Reversed Item scores then add Remaining Item scores to get the Total Score
+
=
(Reversed Items)

(Remaing Items)

(Total Score)

Subtract total # completed items (25 on scale) from Total Score to get Item Score
=
(Total Score)

(#items complete)

(Item Score)

Multiply Item Score by 100 to get Adjusted Score

X 100 =
(Item Score)

(Adjusted Score)

Multiply # of completed items (25 on scale) by 6 to get Divisor

X
6 =
(#items complete)

(Divisor)

The Adjusted Total is divided by the Divisor to get the Total ICS Score
/
=
(Adjusted Total)

(Divisor)

(Total ICS Score)

Total ICS Score should range between 0-100

Scores > 30 = significant stress

PROFESSIONAL QUALITY OF LIFE SCALE (PROQOL)

Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue
Version 5 (Stamm, 2009)
When you [help] people you have direct contact with their lives. As you may have found, your
compassion for those you [help] can affect you in positive and negative ways. Below are some questions
about your experiences, both positive and negative, as a [helper]. Consider each of the following
questions about you and your current work situation. Select the number that honestly reflects how
frequently you experienced these things in the last 30 days.

1=Never

2=Rarely

3=Sometimes

4=Often

5=Very Often

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

I am happy.
I am preoccupied with more than one person I [help].
I get satisfaction from being able to [help] people.
I feel connected to others.
I jump or am startled by unexpected sounds.
I feel invigorated after working with those I [help].
I find it difficult to separate my personal life from my life as a [helper].
I am not as productive at work because I am losing sleep over traumatic experiences of
a person I [help].
9. I think that I might have been affected by the traumatic stress of those I [help].
10. I feel trapped by my job as a [helper].
11. Because of my [helping], I have felt "on edge" about various things.
12. I like my work as a [helper].
13. I feel depressed because of the traumatic experiences of the people I [help].
14. I feel as though I am experiencing the trauma of someone I have [helped].
15. I have beliefs that sustain me.
16. I am pleased with how I am able to keep up with [helping] techniques and protocols.
17. I am the person I always wanted to be.
18. My work makes me feel satisfied.
19. I feel worn out because of my work as a [helper].
20. I have happy thoughts and feelings about those I [help] and how I could help them.
21. I feel overwhelmed because my case [work] load seems endless.
22. I believe I can make a difference through my work.
23. I avoid certain activities or situations because they remind me of frightening experiences
of the people I [help].
24. I am proud of what I can do to [help].
25. As a result of my [helping], I have intrusive, frightening thoughts.
26. I feel "bogged down" by the system.
_ 27. I have thoughts that I am a "success" as a [helper].
28. I can't recall important parts of my work with trauma victims.
29. I am a very caring person.
30. I am happy that I chose to do this work.

B. Hudnall Stamm, 2009. Professional Quality of Life: Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue Version 5 (ProQOL).
/www.isu.edu/~bhstamm or www.proqol.org. This test may be freely copied as long as (a) author is credited, (b) no changes are
made, and (c) it is not sold.

TRS
TRAUMA RECOVERY SCALE
PART I
no
yes

I have been exposed to a traumatic event in which both of the following were present:
a. experienced, witnessed or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual
or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or
others, AND
b. my response involved intense fear, helplessness or horror.
If yes is answered complete Part II & III;
If no is answered complete Part III (omit Part II)
PART II
Directions: Please read the following list and check all that apply.
Type of Traumatic Event
Number of Times
1. Childhood Sexual Abuse
2. Rape
3. Other Adult Sexual Assault/Abuse
4. Natural Disaster
5. Industrial Disaster
6. Motor Vehicle Accident
7 Combat Trauma
8. Witnessing Traumatic Event
9. Childhood Physical Abuse
10. Adult Physical Abuse
11. Victim of Other Violent Crime
12. Captivity
13. Torture
14. Domestic Violence
15. Sexual Harassment
16. Threat of Physical Violence
17. Accidental Physical Injury
18. Humiliation
19. Property Loss
20. Death of Loved One
21. Terrorism
23. Other:
24. Other:
25. Other:

Comments:

Dates/Age(s)

TRS T R A U M A

R E C O V E R Y S C A LE

J. Eric Gentry

PART III
Place a mark on the line that best represents your experiences during the past week.
1. I make it through the day without distressing recollections of past events.
._
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
0%
100% of the time
2. I sleep free from nightmares.
._
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
0%
100% of the time
3. I am able to stay in control when I think of difficult memories.
._
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
0%
100% of the time
4. I do the things that I used to avoid (e.g., daily activities, social activities,
thoughts of events and people connected with past events).
._
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
0%
100% of the time
5. I am safe (Am Safe AS).
._
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
._____.
0%
100% of the time
I feel safe (Feel Safe FS).
._
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
0%
100% of the time
6. I have supportive relationships in my life.
._
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
0%
100% of the time
7. I find that I can now safely feel a full range of emotions.
._
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
0%
100% of the time
8. I can allow things to happen in my surroundings without needing to control them.
._
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
0%
100% of the time
9. I am able to concentrate on thoughts of my choice.
._
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
0%
100% of the time
10. I have a sense of hope about the future.
._
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
0%
100% of the time

AS FS
(am safe feel safe)

Scoring Instructions: record the score for where the hash mark
falls on the line (0-100) in the box beside the item (average 5a with
5b to get score for 5). Sum scores and divide by 10.
Interpretation: 100 95 (full recovery/subclinical); 86 - 94
(significant recovery/mild symptoms); 75 85 (some recovery/
moderate symptoms); 74 (minimal recovery/severe); below 35
(possible traumatic regression)

Mean Score

Silencing Response Scale (Baranowsky, 2011)

INSTRUCTIONS: This scale was developed to help caregivers identify specific communication struggles in their
work. Choose the number that best reflects your experience using the following rating system, where 0 signifies
rarely or never and 10 means very often. Answer all items to the best of your ability as they reflect your feelings
over the previous two work weeks.
Rarely/Never= 0---------1--------2----------3--------4---------5--------6--------7--------8--------9-------10 =Always
Sometimes
(1)

Are there times when you believe your client is repeating emotional issues you feel were already
covered?

(2)

Do you get angry with client(s)?

(3)

Are there times when you react with sarcasm toward your client(s)?

(4)

Are there times when you fake interest?

(5)

Do you feel that listening to certain experiences of your client(s) will not help?

(6)

Do you feel that letting your client talk about their trauma will hurt them?

(7)

Do you feel that listening to your client's experiences will hurt you?

(8)

Are there times that you blame your client for the bad things that have happened to them?

(9)

Are there times when you are unable to believe what your client is telling you because what they are
describing seems overly traumatic?

(10)

Are there times when you feel numb, avoidant or apathetic before meeting with certain clients?

(11)

Do you consistently support certain clients in avoiding important therapeutic material despite ample time
to address their concerns?

(12)

Are there times when sessions do not seem to be going well or the client's treatment progress appears to
be blocked?

(13)

Do you become negatively aroused when a client is angry with you?

(14)

Are there times when you cannot remember what a client has just said?

(15)

Are there times when you cannot focus on what a client is saying?

TOTAL =

GLOBAL CHECK SET (GCS, Baranowsky & Gentry, 2010)

Name:

Date:

Sex: M F

Birth Date:

Instructions: Read through each statement and circle the number that best describes your experience since the
traumatic event. Some questions relate to the present & some to the past, respond accordingly.
Never Rarely

1-a.
2-d.
3-s.
4-p.
5-x.
6-i.
7-c.
8-a.
9-d.
10-s.
11-p.
12-x.
13-i.
14-c.
15-a.
16-d.
17-s.
18-i.
19-c.
20-a.
21-d.
22-s.
23-p.
24-x.
25-i.
26-c.
27-a.
28-d.
29-s.
30-p.
31-x.
32-i.
33-c.
34-p.
35-x.

0
I drink alcoholic beverages daily.
0
I feel sad, empty or become tearful.
I feel hopeless or worthless.
0
0
I have been exposed directly or indirectly
(i.e., family, friend, colleagues) to a traumatic event.
I worry and feel anxious.
0
4
My body is usually pain free.
0
I cannot recall details of a trauma I experienced.
0
I use illegal drugs daily.
My sleep is disrupted or I am tired when I wake up.
0
4
I have a positive and cheerful attitude to life.
0
Thoughts of a traumatic event keep coming to my mind
(i.e., thoughts, dreams, flashbacks).
0
I seem to be unable to control my worries or fears.
0
I worry about my health.
I do not know how I came to be at some place.
0
Drugs or alcohol interferes with what I need to get done. 0
I am no longer interested in the activities I used to enjoy. 0
0
I think about ending my life.
I have not been well due to diagnosed physical illness(es). 0
I easily recall important personal information about myself. 4
Drugs / alcohol have negatively impacted my personal life. 0
4
I have a lot of energy.
0
I have a specific plan to end my life.
0
I lose my temper easily.
0
I always feel on edge.
I have frequent headaches.
0
I act out of character and feel I dont know myself.
0
4
Drugs or alcohol are not a problem in my life.
0
I have lost or gained more than 10 lbs. recently.
0
I fear that my life will never improve.
I avoid people, places or things that are trauma rem inders. 0
4
My concentration is good.
I am afraid I will become seriously ill in the future.
0
0
I feel outside of myself - detached like an observer.
4
I am fairly relaxed and do not startle easily.
0
I feel irritable most of the time.
+

TOTAL GCS SCORE

1
1
1
1

Some Frequently Almost

Always
times
2
3
4
2
3
4
2
3
4
2
3
4

1
3
1
1
1
3
1

2
2
2
2
2
2
2

3
1
3
3
3
1
3

4
0
4
4
4
0
4

1
1
1
1
1
1

2
2
2
2
2
2

3
3
3
3
3
3

4
4
4
4
4
4

3
1
3

2
2
2

1
3
1

0
4
0

1
1

2
2

3
3

4
4

1
1
3
1
1
1
3
1
1
3
1

2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

3
3
1
3
3
3
1
3
3
1
3

4
4
0
4
4
4
0
4
4
0
4

Index of Clinical Stress (Abel, 1991)

Name:

Date:_

This questionnaire is designed to measure the way you feel about the amount of personal stress
that you experience. It is not a test, so there is no right or wrong response. Answer each item as
carefully and as accurately as you can (reflecting on the past 2 weeks) by placing a number
beside each one as follows:
1=None of the time
2=Very little
3=A little of the time
4=Some of the time
5=A good part of the time
6=Most of the time
7=All of the time
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
Score:

I feel extremely tense.

I feel very jittery.
I feel like I want to scream.
I feel overwhelmed.
I feel very relaxed.
I feel so anxious I want to cry.
I feel so stressed that I would like to hit something.
I feel very calm and peaceful.
I feel like I am stretched to the breaking point.
It is very hard for me to relax.
It is very easy for me to fall asleep at night.
I feel an enormous sense of pressure on me.
I feel like my life is going very smoothly.
I feel very panicked.
I feel like I am on the verge of total collapse.
I feel like I am losing control of my life.
I feel that I am near the breaking point.
I feel wound up like a coiled spring.
I feel that I cant keep up with the demands on me.
I feel very much behind in my work.
I feel tense and angry with those around me.
I feel I must race from one task to the next.
I feel that I just cant keep up with everything.
I feel as tight as a drum.
I feel very much on edge.

MISSION STATEMENT INSTRUCTIONS (Alternate Short Version)

On your journey toward wellness and recovery from Compassion Fatigue we invite you to
explore your early memories of being a caring person, how this led you to become a working
caregiver, what that means to you and what keeps you from achieving your ideal in your work.
Please consider the following categories and try to answer them being as general or as specific
as you wish. This is an exploration and therefore there can be no right or wrong approach or
answer. Follow your instincts on this one and they will send you in just the right direction.
YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
*What is it about you that led you toward helping others?
PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
*What are the values that you will never compromise in your work with clients?
COMMITMENTS
*What are you committed to offer clients? What are you committed to offer yourself?
STRENGTHS: Clients & your own
*What do you believe about your clients? What about your own strengths?
YOUR IDEAL
*If you were to become your ideal caregiver how would life look to you?
ROADBLOCKS AND BAD TRAFFIC
*What impediments keep you from this ideal?
These are just some questions designed to stir your thinking on this topic. Give yourself some
time to think about your personal Mission Statement, then take the plunge and commit your
thoughts to paper. However, make sure to offer yourself creative license in this endeavor.
Remember, there is no right or wrong Mission Statement and, chances are, it will be in continual
evolution as long as you practice in this field. This is a wonderful gift to give yourself and can be
a source of empowerment and inspiration for you in the future. Enjoy.

PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT (Alternate Short Version)

USE AS MUCH SPACE AS YOU NEED!
YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
*What is it about you that led you toward helping others?

PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

*What are the values that you will never compromise in your work with clients?

COMMITMENTS
*What are you committed to offer clients? What are you committed to offer yourself?

STRENGTHS: Clients & your own

*What do you believe about your clients? What about your own strengths?

YOUR IDEAL
*If you were to become your ideal caregiver how would life look to you?

ROADBLOCKS AND BAD TRAFFIC

*What impediments keep you from this ideal?

LETTER FROM
"THE GREAT SUPERVISOR"
This letter should be written to yourself from an omniscient (all knowing) and omni-benevolent
(all good) source. It should reflect the nurturance, support and validation that you have wanted
and needed to hear from someone in authority. It should focus upon your strengths, assets and
goodness. This will be a challenge for some ... the more honest and sincere that you make this
letter, the more benefit you will receive from the work that will come with it in subsequent
sessions.

Dear