Continuing Education Sessions

Adults in a classroom setting

CE Session Speaker

Dr. Kimberly Byrd

Session Description
In her presentation, Dr. Byrd will focus on understanding and addressing stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue, particularly for individuals in caregiving, regulatory environments, or high-stress professions. It begins by defining each term: stress as a common response to demands; burnout as unmanaged, chronic workplace stress that leads to emotional exhaustion, detachment, and decreased performance; and compassion fatigue, a unique form of burnout affecting those in helping roles, marked by emotional strain from supporting others in distress.
Dr. Byrd will explore the signs and symptoms of each, including irritability, exhaustion, difficulty focusing, and reduced empathy, emphasizing the importance of recognizing these early warning signs. Finally, she will offer self-care strategies, such as setting boundaries, practicing mindfulness, seeking social support, and engaging in regular physical activity. The goal is to equip participants with tools to build resilience, support mental health, and cultivate a sustainable, fulfilling approach to their work.

Bio

Dr. Kimberly Byrd is a licensed therapist, writer, and Professor at Oakland University. She holds a BA in Psychology, a Master’s in Social Work, a Certificate in Higher Education, and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. With extensive experience in long-term care, hospice, continuing education course development, teaching, and private practice, Dr. Byrd brings deep expertise in addressing employee secondary trauma, vicarious trauma, PTSD, and burnout. She specializes in trauma-informed care, anxiety and depression treatment, relationship counseling, and client advocacy. A frequent speaker at mental health workshops and self-care seminars, Dr. Byrd is passionate about raising awareness of mental health issues. A Michigan native, she enjoys outdoor adventures with her family.