Finding the Time to Care - Addiction and Compassion Fatigue

Empathy and developing rapport, whilst maintaining boundaries with those in your care, can be the key to lasting change. Geoff Ahern explains why care must be non-judgemental for people who have a dependence, and what to do when withdrawal isn't always successful.

Geoffrey Ahern is a senior mental health clinician and educator who splits his time between working with people in a mental health crisis in the ED setting and working proactively in educating other health professionals and the community about how to better understand mental health problems and also substance use and addiction. Over the years, he has gained extensive experience in emergency and trauma, rural nursing, alcohol and other drug counselling, and psychiatric nursing across both the public and private sectors. He holds a Masters of Health Science (Mental Health and Addiction). Geoff is particularly fascinated by the impact that exercise, nutrition, community, meaning and purpose and practices like yoga have on a person’s mental health as well as living a simple life of reflection, contentment and wonderment.