PORTRAITS OF PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVERS: THEIR PASSION. THEIR PAIN. depicts the dramatic emotional costs experienced by professional providers such as nurses, social workers, clinical psychologists, doctors, and firefighters. It also puts a spotlight on first responders who rescue, assist, and when possible - heal the injured and traumatized. The one-hour documentary chronicles how caregiving can be an occupational hazard, and asks the questions, "How is the professional care provider affected emotionally and physically, and who helps him or her?" PORTRAITS OF PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVERS explores the painful and human sides of these professions and the professionals' response to trauma known as compassion fatigue or secondary traumatic stress. In addition, the film highlights the profound meaning caregivers draw from their work, sometimes referred to as compassion satisfaction, and looks at ways of coping and recovering from toxic stress in the workplace. Through dramatic stories and intimate interviews, the film probes the emotionally risky aspects of professional caregiving, secondary trauma, and public service.
