Empathizing more selectively

For those of you who tend to absorb others' feelings, how did you learn to balance your empathic nature with self-differentiation, to have boundaries that are porous enough to be therapeutic but structured enough to protect yourself? I struggle with feeling patients' emotions too strongly, especially towards the end of the work day. In the last few days I've been exhausted and almost detached as a result.
Source: Student Doctor Network - Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: Source Type: forums