The One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast

Compassion Fatigue and Burnout with Cece Sykes

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Nov 19, 2024

Cece Sykes, an IFS Senior Trainer and author known for her work on complex trauma, joins the discussion on compassion fatigue and burnout. She examines how burnout is more than just fatigue; it's a depletion of energy and hope. The conversation covers how protectors keep us in overdrive, while fleeting relief from firefighters can be misleading. Cece emphasizes the importance of listening to our inner signals, setting boundaries, and practicing genuine self-care to foster resilience against burnout.

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INSIGHT

Burnout Definition

Burnout stems from prolonged effort without adequate rest or support.
It's not always about overworking, but rather feeling unsupported in our endeavors.

ADVICE

Addressing Burnout

Acknowledge burnout and listen to your inner system's needs.
Recognize that firefighters offer temporary relief, not true nourishment.

INSIGHT

Burnout Signals

Repetitive, crunchy foods like chips can soothe excess energy.
Burnout accumulates over time, not overnight.

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Episode Summary: In this episode I chat with Cece Sykes, an IFS lead trainer and author, about an experience many of us share: compassion fatigue and burnout. More than just feeling tired, burnout shows up as depletion of energy, hope, and satisfaction, affecting our internal and external systems.

We explore how our protectors keep us going, while our firefighters might lead us to distractions that don’t truly nourish us. We also discuss how burnout builds up over time, the role of chronic stress, and why it’s so important to listen to the signals our parts are sending.

For a deeper dive on the topic of burnout and compassion fatigue, Cece is teaching a workshop through Life Architect December 5 and 6, 2024 called An IFS Lens on Therapist Burnout.

Key Takeaways:

Burnout isn’t just about doing too much; it’s about the chronic depletion of our internal resources.
Protectors often keep us in overdrive, while firefighters offer temporary relief that doesn’t actually restore us.
How can we better support our parts before they reach the point of burnout?
True self-care goes beyond surface-level practices; it’s about understanding where our energy is going and making choices aligned with our values.
Creating boundaries and allowing ourselves to rest can help break the cycle of overwork and exhaustion.

Favorite Quote: "Burnout is depletion—it’s the depletion of energy, of hope, of peace of mind, and of satisfaction." – Cece Sykes

About Cece Sykes: Cece Sykes, LCSW, is an IFS Senior Trainer, therapist, speaker, and author known for her expertise in working with complex trauma and addiction. Her book: IFS Therapy for Addictions: Trauma Informed Compassion-Based Interventions for Substances, Eating, Gambling and More

Episode Sponsor: Life Architect

✨ Get access to 3 IFS webinars organized by Life Architect (featuring Einat Bronstein, Kay Gardner & Robert Falconer, and Ann Sinko) and receive a 30% discount on selected IFS workshops: https://lifearchitect.com/tammy/ ✨

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Jeff Schrum co-produces The One Inside Podcast. He is a writer, counselor, and IFS Level 1 practitioner.

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Tammy is grateful for Jack Reardon who created music for the podcast. Jack is a graduate of Derek Scott’s IFS Stepping Stones Program.

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