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Are you ready to manage your compassion fatigue? In this episode of Beyond Compassion Fatigue, I introduce you to the Stages of Change model, a therapeutic framework originally developed to help people quit smoking.

We’ll explore how these six stages: Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance, and Relapse (or Reset!) show up in the lives of animal welfare workers and advocates. You’ll learn how to identify where you are right now, why every stage is valid, and how to use this awareness to take practical steps toward managing compassion fatigue, building resilience, and preventing burnout.

Whether you’re just beginning to notice the toll this work takes, or you’re actively putting new strategies into place, this episode will give you insight, encouragement, and concrete tools to keep going—without running on empty.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• What the Stages of Change model is and how it applies to compassion fatigue.
• The six stages of change and how they show up in animal welfare and advocacy work.
• Why ambivalence and setbacks are a normal part of the change process.
• Practical examples of what each stage might look like for someone in rescue, shelter, or advocacy roles.
• How to reframe “relapse” as a reset instead of a failure.

Resources mentioned:

• Free Worksheet: Download your Stages of Change Reflection Worksheet here
• Group Coaching Program: Learn more here

Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to Beyond Compassion Fatigue so you never miss an episode.
• Share this podcast with a friend or colleague in animal welfare who might need encouragement today.