An Invitation to Slow:
Mitigating Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue and Burnout in the Mental Health Professions
Presenters: Mark R. McMinn & Lisa Graham McMinn
Tuesday, May 13th, 2025
6:00 – 8:30 PM ET
Level: Beginner
Enroll Now
To access this webinar, please enroll or login if you are an existing AACC member. Join today to get access to this webinar and more!
Continuing Education
Continuing Education Accreditations applicable to this workshop:
Live: Approved for 2 ASWB, NBCC and IBCC Credits*
On Demand: Approved for 2 ASWB, NBCC and IBCC Credits*
CE Statement
Summary
We live in a day of fast information, fast food, fast shipping, fast words, fast anger, and fast judgment and as licensed mental health therapists and ministry leaders, this affects us too. Our fight-or-flight impulses keep us on high alert, aided by wristwatches that vibrate each time another crisis strikes. Due to our professions being in the care of others, we are prone to compassion fatigue and burnout. Research has shown that religion and spirituality, especially when experienced in community, can help mitigate a variety of stress-related problems. The workshop is based on the recent book, An Invitation to Slow, where the trainers pair social science research related to the urgency of contemporary life with invitations to slower, quieter, more intentional ways of being. Participants will examine how the high pace of life can negatively impact a mental health professional’s level of burnout and compassion fatigue, and how anxiety, envy, and isolation are issues that professionals need to assess in their personal lives, knowing these impact professional work as well. For example, the object relations pioneer Melanie Klein contrasted envy and gratitude, showing how the former is destructive in one’s personal and professional life while the latter promotes wellbeing and growth. Participants will also learn how a relational view of courage can mitigate fear and anxiety, and how engaging in community connection can help alleviate symptoms of compassion fatigue and burnout.
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
- Analyze the accelerating pace of life and its effect on compassion fatigue and burnout symptoms in the life and work of a mental health professional or ministry leader.
- Examine the nature of fear, how it is connected to anxiety, and how a relational perspective on courage can help mitigate fear.
- Describe envy and isolation as destructive interpersonal forces, with gratitude and community being contrasting virtues that can alleviate symptoms of compassion fatigue and burnout.
Continuing Education Statement
Live: Approved for LPC, LMFT, LCSW, and IBCC
The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) offers some psychologists, therapists, counselors, social workers, and play therapists Continuing Education (CE) credit due to good standing with certain states and a limited number of professional organizations. It remains the responsibility of each participant to be aware of state licensure and CE requirements. Participants should check their state and/or local regulations regarding required Continuing Education hours. *Webinars MUST be watched LIVE to receive CE Credit.
On-Demand: 2 NBCC Credits
Effective immediately, participants can now earn “On-Demand” NBCC credit for CounselTalk webinars that are not attended live. To receive this credit, participants must complete a 10-question quiz and an evaluation following the On-demand CounselTalk webinar.
Please note the following details:
- The CounselTalk webinar will switch to “On-Demand” credit after 11:59 pm on the day of the webinar.
- Participants must sign up for the CounselTalk webinar prior to its start time to be eligible for this type of credit.
Learn more about our Continuing Education Policies
Presenters
Mark R. McMinn (PhD in Clinical Psychology, Vanderbilt University) is faculty emeritus at George Fox University. He has authored or co-authored 16 books, co-edited 4 books, and published over 130 book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles. Two of his books (Finding Our Way Home, Jossey-Bass, 2005; The Science of Virtue, Brazos, 2017) received Awards of Merit in the annual Christianity Today book awards, one (Why Sin Matters, Tyndale, 2004) was a finalist in the Gold Medallion book award competition, and one (The Science of Virtue) received the annual book award given by the Martin Institute for Christianity & Culture and the Dallas Willard Center (MIDWC) at Westmont College. Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling (Tyndale, 1996, 2011) has sold approximately 100,000 copies over a 29-year span.
Lisa Graham McMinn (Ph.D. in Sociology/Systems Science, Portland State University) retired after 20 years teaching sociology and currently holds a position as Writer-in-Residence at George Fox University, and coordinator of the Spiritual Direction care in the Psy.D. program at George Fox. She is a Spiritual Director (certification through Portland Seminary), author and occasional speaker and teacher. She has written seven books (three of them co-authored), and has published over 20 peer reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and articles in popular magazines such as Christianity Today, and Conversations: A Forum for Authentic Transformation. Her previous books include Growing Strong Daughters (Baker, 2001, 2007), Sexuality and Holy Longing (Jossey-Bass, 2004; Fortress, 2019), The Contented Soul (IVP Books, 2006), Walking Gently on the Earth (IVP Books, 2010), and To the Table (Brazos, 2016).