River's Bend Highlights Compassion Fatigue and the Need for Stronger Community Partnerships
River’s Bend PC urges the behavioral health community to recognize year end compassion fatigue and support providers through grounding practices, boundaries, and connection.
(PRUnderground) December 3rd, 2025
As the year draws to a close, River’s Bend PC is urging the behavioral health community to acknowledge and address the emotional strain many providers carry during the holiday season. President and Co-Owner Bruce Goldberg, LMSW is calling attention to compassion fatigue, an often overlooked but deeply felt challenge for clinicians, counselors, crisis workers, and first responders.
“The end of the year in behavioral health work isn’t always wrapped in ribbons and warm feelings,” Goldberg said. “For many of us, it’s the season when the weight of the job feels heaviest.”
Goldberg notes that providers absorb far more than stories; they hold the emotional fallout of their communities. Two recent events, he shared, underscore the profound toll this work can take:
- “The traumatic church shooting in Grand Blanc pierced a collective sense of safety we’re still rebuilding.”
- “And the tragic suicide of a young professional football player from Michigan, just 24 years old, reminded us that outward success doesn’t guarantee inner peace.”
“We don’t just read or discuss these stories,” Goldberg said. “We absorb them, professionally and personally.”
Compassion Fatigue – The Invisible Seasonal Weight
Goldberg emphasized that compassion fatigue rarely announces itself.
“It shows up subtly—in missed meals, short tempers, or a flat affect that wasn’t there in September. In high-acuity work, these signs can creep in fast during the holidays.”
Referrals surge. Families struggle. Clients face isolation, relapse, and grief. Providers keep showing up.
“Just because you’re trained to help others doesn’t mean you’re immune to the cost,” Goldberg said.
Resetting Without Time Off
Not all providers have the option of stepping back over the holidays. Goldberg shared three practices he personally relies on to stay centered:
- Finding Meaning in the Work
“Sometimes the meaning is in the moment, not the outcome. After the Grand Blanc shooting, I talked with first responders who simply couldn’t sleep. We couldn’t fix it right away—but we created space. That mattered.”
- Boundaries as Clinical Tools
“I once believed working late made me a stronger leader. It didn’t—it made me depleted. Now I practice ‘clinical closure’ after sessions. A walk, music in the car, even locking my office door and taking one breath can reset the system.”
His go-to boundary statements include: “I’ve done enough for today.”
- Peer Support as a Lifeline
“When we launched our P4P peer gatherings, everything shifted. Providers need places to say the hard things: ‘I’m struggling,’ ‘I’m furious,’ ‘I cried after group.’ Peer support and engagement isn’t optional, it’s essential.”
A Provider’s Perspective from the Front Lines
This year alone, River’s Bend clinicians have supported individuals and colleagues facing unimaginable loss, from parents grieving overdose deaths to teens emerging from suicidal crises.
“Our team showed up with empathy and grace, not because they were superhuman, but because they practiced structured self-renewal,” Goldberg said. “Resetting doesn’t mean removing yourself from the work. It means reconnecting with the part of you that’s still whole.”
Normalizing Provider Vulnerability
“We have to speak more openly about the emotional labor in behavioral health—especially at year’s end, when the world feels both beautiful and brutal,” Goldberg said.
His message to clinicians is simple:
- You matter.
- Your wellness is part of the treatment plan.
- Resetting isn’t weakness—it’s wise.
Looking Toward 2026
Goldberg hopes providers walk into the new year feeling lighter, supported, and connected.
“At River’s Bend, we are committed not just to providing care, but to being a community of it. You don’t have to carry any of this alone.”
To explore partnership opportunities, connect with our Business Liaison today.
Together, we can strengthen the behavioral health workforce and support those who support everyone else.
About River’s Bend P.C.
Founded in 1995, River’s Bend is a nationally accredited outpatient behavioral health clinic specializing in evidence-based treatment for mental health and substance use disorders. With a deep commitment to compassionate care and community support, River’s Bend provides personalized treatment programs including IOP, PHP, and specialty services for adolescents and families.
To explore partnership opportunities, connect with our Business Liaison today.
Together, we can strengthen the behavioral health workforce and support those who support everyone else.
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