Season 6 Episode 6 | When the Heart Can’t Hold It All: A Conversation with Beverly Kyer on Compassion Fatigue

CASAT Conversations

In this episode of CASAT Conversations, we sit down with Beverly Kyer, best-selling author, clinical social worker, and nationally recognized speaker on compassion fatigue. With more than three decades of experience in trauma recovery and emotional well-being, Beverly has dedicated her life to supporting those who serve others, particularly professionals working in high-stress environments.
Her career spans pediatric oncology, psychiatry, foster care, and veteran support, most notably with Vietnam veterans through the VA in Bronx, New York. She’s also spent years providing guidance as a high school counselor, helping students and staff navigate emotional challenges. After experiencing two serious health crises, Beverly shifted from full-time work to self-employment, using her voice to advocate for awareness and healing around secondary and vicarious trauma.
Today, Beverly educates, coaches, and inspires others to recognize the toll of caregiving and build strategies for sustainable service. Her work emphasizes the importance of boundaries, resilience, and reconnecting with a deeper sense of purpose.

In this episode, Beverly discusses:
The personal and professional experiences that shaped her path

• Lessons she wishes she had learned earlier in her career
• A career-defining breakthrough that continues to guide her work
• How she cultivated resilience while supporting others through trauma
• What continues to make this work deeply meaningful
• Her advice for those entering the field of mental health and human services
  

Join us for a powerful conversation on purpose, perseverance, and the vital importance of caring for the caregiver.

Key words: compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, mental health professionals, boundaries, healing, recovery, education

Resources:

Surviving Compassion Fatigue: Help for Those Who Help by Beverly Kyer