This full feature documentary shares the dramatic behind the scenes stories of professionals who provide care to traumatized or dying patients and clients--medics, firefighters, child protective social workers, hospice staff, clinical psychologists, urban school teachers, emergency nurses, doctors and others. We learn about the emotional impact of their arduous work upon themselves and how they seek to cope with secondary trauma, as well as to find meaning in these very challenging jobs. Along with the powerful stories of the professionals, internationally recognized experts, Sandra Bloom and Charles R. Figley provide insightful commentary.
Through dramatic personal stories, Portraits of Professional CAREgivers probes the emotionally risky aspects of professional care providers. We ask the question: How is the care provider affected emotionally and physically, and who helps our helpers? Through the poignant stories of the professionals, the audience will discover that engaged empathic caregiving can be a significant occupational hazard; we explore the painful and human sides of these professions and the professionals' response to trauma known as Compassion Fatigue or Secondary Traumatic Stress. We also recognize the profound meaning caregivers may experience in their high risk work, sometimes referred to Compassion Satisfaction and how some progressive agencies are beginning to develop essential structures for staff support.
The film deals with those who heal the injured and assist the traumatized - firefighters, police, social workers, therapists, nurses, doctors, hospice staff, and related trauma personnel - but receive little help in managing their own emotional pain and exhaustion, and may experience secondary trauma and at times dramatically higher rates of alcohol abuse, suicide, and PTSD.
Through the personal stories of the professional caregivers, this documentary shows how empathy and caring can also become serious occupational hazards which can lead to professional grief and secondary trauma, even at times PTSD, addiction, divorce, or suicide. CAREgivers depicts also the professionals courageous efforts to develop coping strategies that sustain themselves individually and collectively struggling at times to create meaning and purpose in their challenging work. Internationally recognized experts, Drs. Sandra Bloom and Charles R. Figley, provide insightful commentary about the daily emotional and physical challenges these caregiving professionals face. And they suggest thoughtful ways to effectively support these peopleupon whom everyone in society depends. Three progressive organziations are featured which demonstrate creative structures of staff support, thereby improving services for clients and clients, as well.
