RUNNING HEAD: EFFECTIVENESS OF CCFST Training-as-treatment: Effectiveness of the Certified Compassion Fatigue Specialist Training

Mental health and other service professionals who work with trauma survivors often experience the debilitating effects of compassion fatigue and caregiver stress. Leaders within the field have called for effective, empirically supported interventions for professionals who experience these negative effects. In response to the call, this study examines the treatment effectiveness of the Certified Compassion Fatigue Specialist Training (CCFST) for 83 participating mental health professionals. Results show a statistically and clinically significant decrease in participants’ compassion fatigue and burnout symptoms and increase in their compassion satisfaction. A "training-as-treatment " effect of CCFST is introduced, described, and evaluated. Discussion of these findings, application of Gold Standards for quantitative empirical research, clinical implications, limitations, and future directions are provided. CCFST appears to be an effective intervention for ameliorating compassion fatigue symptoms in mental health professionals. CCFST 3 Training-as-treatment: Effectiveness of the Certified Compassion Fatigue Specialist Training The toll on mental health and other service professionals who work with people in pain i