You are not alone
Dedicated to supporting veterinarians and animal caregivers worldwide with mental health resources, compassion, and a community focused on well-being and cultivating resilience.
Is Compassion Fatigue Impacting You?
Take our quick quiz to find out, and learn how to get the help you need. Start your journey to well-being today!
We are here
to Shine a Light on Compassion Fatigue in Veterinary Care
Relief is on the Horizon
Veterinarians and animal caregivers face some of the highest rates of burnout and compassion fatigue of any profession, yet few understand our plight.
At the Veterinary Compassion Project our mission is to create a flourishing community where veterinary caregivers can sustain their passion, enrich their well-being, and continue to make a profound impact in the field.
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Online Courses
Coming Soon! An 8-week course designed to help animal care professionals and pet owners overcome compassion fatigue. Take it solo or with your team, and gain tools for creating a more peaceful, balanced life.
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The Retreat
Join us April 4-6, 2025, in Petaluma, California, for a restorative retreat. Earn 11 RACE-approved CE credits while enjoying yoga, meditation, and healing experiences in beautiful wine country. Visit the Retreat page to learn more and sign up.
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Meditations
Discover guided meditations – Our Five Minute Morning Rounds Meditation, After Work Release Meditation, and Compassion Meditation will help ground you, release stress, and foster compassion for yourself and all living beings.
Meet Dr. Erin Holder
A Compassionate Journey from Veterinary Medicine to Healing Others.
Dr. Erin Holder graduated with honors from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002, launching a remarkable career that blended her passion for wildlife conservation and integrative veterinary medicine. As a veterinary hospital owner, Dr. Holder cared for a wide range of animals and appeared on National Geographic Wild: Unlikely Animal Friends. After experiencing compassion fatigue firsthand, she sold her hospital and began a deep exploration of healing, focusing on providing support to fellow animal care professionals.
Her mission now is to offer concrete tools to combat compassion fatigue, using techniques such as meditation, trauma healing, and energy work to bring balance back into the lives of those who care for animals.
Want to learn more about Dr. Holder’s inspiring journey and her work?.
Together we are STRONGER!
Be the first to hear about VCP’s blogs, videos and retreats for healing compassion and empathy fatigue.
Join Us
Restorative Retreat for Veterinary Professionals
Recharge, Connect, and Transform in Wine Country
Join us for a one-of-a-kind restorative retreat in beautiful Petaluma, California, from April 4-6, 2025, where you can immerse yourself in healing, camaraderie, and self-care. Designed specifically for veterinarians, clinic staff, and animal welfare organizations, this transformative event offers 11 hours of RACE-approved CE credits.
Over three days, you’ll discover the root causes of compassion fatigue, delving into how daily workplace experiences often expose us to trauma, and how a positive hospital culture is essential in restoring joy to the profession. Through expert-led discussions, we’ll create a safe and supportive space to help you connect with your authentic self and empower you to ask for what you need.
You can’t afford to miss this retreat—give yourself the gift of peace and rejuvenation.
My Somatic Healing Experience
On my journey to healing and helping others heal in the veterinary profession, I have decided to attend as many healing modalities as possible to experience each one first hand. What I know positively from my journey is that in order to move forward, we have to look backwards. It is undeniable that unresolved traumas…
What’s In a Name?
For the past year this organization has been called The Veterinary Compassion Fatigue Project. When I first began, it was important for me to identify this as a site for those suffering from compassion fatigue or burnout. But as I move through the creation of the project, I realize that my view was too narrow…
“Happiness is a Warm Puppy” – Schulz
While in the throes of mourning my beloved Professor, I was sitting on my front porch and found myself googling goldendoodle puppies. I have spent a life rescuing animals but every once in a while I decide to purchase an animal from a reputable breeder. And what breeder could be better than Professor’s? So my…