The Benefits of Loving Kindness Meditation for Helping Professionals: A Systematic Review
Health & Social Care in the Community October 23, 2023 Tracy Watson, Lynelle Watts, Rebecca Waters et al.
Helping professionals often face health problems from constant exposure to others' emotional distress. Although the term compassion fatigue suggests compassion causes exhaustion, research indicates compassion actually promotes well-being and is neurologically rejuvenating. This review of scientific literature on loving kindness meditation (LKM), a compassion-enhancing practice, suggests LKM can serve as an alternative strategy to reduce stress, ease empathic distress, and increase positive affect.