3 Hours / 3 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Burnout, Vicarious Trauma, and Compassion Fatigue is presented by Jerrod Brown, Ph.D.

This badge-earning program can be shared digitally on platforms like LinkedIn or your resume and counts towards a certificate. Enroll in this program to earn credit towards the Integrated Behavioral Health Certificate and share your new digital credentials with prospective employers and colleagues.

Compassion fatigue, burnout, and vicarious trauma are all illnesses experienced by professionals due to the demanding nature of their work. When professionals are constantly pushed to their limits, they may experience symptoms of these illnesses.

Compassion fatigue is a syndrome that is caused by chronic stress and exhaustion. This syndrome can develop after long periods of working excessively hard and feeling overwhelmed. Symptoms of compassion fatigue can include feeling overwhelmed by the number of people needing help, constantly tired, and having difficulty meeting personal needs. Burnout is another condition that can be caused by long hours and excessive stress. This syndrome can lead to decreased motivation, decreased energy, and decreased ability to focus. Vicarious trauma is caused by witnessing or experiencing a harmful or traumatic event. Vicarious trauma can lead to feelings of fear, anger, and sadness. Professionals constantly dealing with traumatic events may be more at risk for developing compassion fatigue.

This program is intended for all mental health professionals and examines these topics' definitions, causes, and consequences. Prevention and intervention strategies are discussed. Empirically based research findings are discussed throughout this program.

Related topics discussed during the course of this training include:

  • Toxic stress
  • Job performance issues
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Fatigue
  • Digestive health issues
  • Conflict
  • Decision-making and problem-solving deficits
  • Executive dysfunction
  • Anxiety and depression

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe burnout, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and other related constructs
  • 2 Describe the symptoms and red flag indicators of burnout, vicarious trauma, and compassion fatigue
  • 3 Describe the causes and consequences of burnout, vicarious trauma, and compassion fatigue
  • 4 Describe the relationship between burnout, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and poor professional performance and decision-making
  • 5 Describe empirically based research findings

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health professionals whose primary responsibilities involve direct client care. It is particularly relevant for individuals working in clinical psychology, counseling, social work, and related mental health disciplines.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Clinical Psychologists
    • Social Workers
    • Counselors (including school, mental health, and substance abuse counselors)
    • Other professionals involved in direct client care within mental health fields

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of experience.

    • Beginner: Participants new to the field or with limited exposure to compassion fatigue, burnout, and vicarious trauma, seeking foundational knowledge of definitions, symptoms, causes, and consequences.

    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience recognizing and addressing these issues in themselves or colleagues, looking to deepen their understanding of empirically based research and intervention strategies.

    • Advanced: Participants with extensive experience managing or supervising others around these topics, seeking to refine advanced prevention and intervention skills and integrate current research into practice.

  • Practice Setting

    They work in client-centered clinical environments that demand ongoing assessment, intervention, and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams under time, documentation, and caseload pressures. Many practice in high-stress, trauma-exposed contexts that require crisis response while sustaining long-term care and safeguarding against compassion fatigue, burnout, and vicarious trauma.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Outpatient community mental health clinics
    • Hospital behavioral health units and emergency/crisis teams
    • Private and group practices
    • School-based counseling programs
    • Substance use treatment centers
    • Residential and inpatient treatment facilities
    • Telehealth/virtual counseling services
    • Correctional and juvenile justice programs
Presented By

Jerrod Brown, PhD

Jerrod Brown, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.S., M.S., is a professor, trainer, researcher, and consultant with multiple years of experience teaching collegiate courses. Jerrod is also the founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS). Jerrod has also provided consultation services to a number of caregivers, professionals, and organizations pertaining to topics related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), confabulation, suggestibility, trauma, and other life adversities, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and youth firesetting. Jerrod has completed four separate master’s degree programs and holds graduate certificates in Neuropsychology, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Other Health Disabilities (OHD), and Traumatic-Brain Injuries (TBI). Jerrod has also conducted over 200 workshops, webinars, and on-demand training for various organizations and professional and student audiences. In 2021, Jerrod completed a post-doctoral certificate in Leadership and Organizational Strategy from Walden University and a Professional Certificate in Forensic Psychology from San Diego State University Global Campus. Currently, Jerrod is pursuing a graduate certificate in Neuroscience and Law from Michigan State University. Jerrod has published several articles and book chapters and recently co-edited the book Forensic Mental Health: A Source Guide for Professionals (Brown & Weinkauf, 2018) with Erv Weinkauf. Jerrod is also regularly featured on several national and international podcast programs. 


Jerrod has also completed specialized trainings and certifications in the following areas: 

Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor (CFNC) through Functional Nutrition Alliance 

Integrative Adult Sleep Coach Certification Program. A 12-month, in-depth, comprehensive training program 

Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies. A 7-month online post-graduate training program 

Certified Neurodiversity Professional 

Professional Certification in Trauma & Resilience: Level One 

Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist 

Certification as a Tobacco Treatment Specialist through Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center Rochester, Minnesota 

Brain Health Coaching Certification Course 

Certified Digestive Health Specialist through the Institute of Transformational Nutrition 

Gut Health Specialist Certification 

Stress and Mindset Coach Certification 

Holistic Health Coach Certification 

Certified Sleep Science Coach

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Burnout, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue

  • Symptoms and red flag indicators

  • Causes and consequences

  • Relationship between burnout, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and poor professional performance and decision-making

  • Empirically based research findings

Earning a Certificate

This is a badge-earning program, which means it will help you earn a certificate that can be showcased on digital platforms like LinkedIn.
View Certificates

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).


Sponsorship Approval Statements

Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.