Secondary Traumatic Stress in the Courtroom: Suggestions for Preventing Vicarious Trauma Resulting from Child Sexual Abuse Imagery

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-75
Author(s):  
Shely Polak ◽  
Rebecca Bailey ◽  
Elizabeth Bailey
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Vicarious Trauma

scholarly journals Secondary traumatic stress in police officers investigating childhood sexual abuse

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 636-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy-Kate Hurrell ◽  
Simon Draycott ◽  
Leanne Andrews
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Childhood Sexual Abuse ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk

Purpose Previous research has indicated that helping professionals working with traumatised individuals are susceptible to adverse effects which can be recognised as secondary traumatic stress (STS). The purpose of this paper is to explore STS in police officer’s investigating childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in the UK. Design/methodology/approach This study employed a cross-sectional, quantitative design. An online questionnaire was completed by 101 Child Abuse Investigation Unit (CAIU) police officers in England and Wales. STS, coping strategies, anxiety, depression and demographic information was collected for all participants. Findings It was indicated that increased exposure to CSA, measured by number of interviews in the past six months, was associated with higher levels of STS. Positive coping strategies, negative coping strategies, anxiety and depression all had a strong, positive relationship with STS. Research limitations/implications This paper is a first step to understanding STS in CAIU police officers in the England and Wales. This area of research remains under-developed and would benefit from further attention in the future. Originality/value This is the first known study of its kind in the UK.

scholarly journals Psychosocial impacts of training to provide professional help: Harm and growth

Trauma ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 146040862096834
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Ball ◽  
Clare Watsford ◽  
Brett Scholz
Keyword(s):  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Vicarious Trauma ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Moral Injury ◽  
Helping Professionals ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Clinical Psychology Program

Introduction Research has consistently demonstrated professionals in helping roles (“helping professionals”) experience vicarious trauma, moral injury, compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout. Vicarious post-traumatic growth has also been identified in the literature. This article aimed to contribute to understanding the experiences of these constructs of trainee helping professionals. Emphasis was placed on how to foster vicarious post-traumatic growth. Methods A qualitative semi-structured interview was designed to enable the researchers to explore the experiences of 14 trainee psychologists from an Australian Master of Clinical Psychology program. Results It was identified that burnout, and beginning stages of vicarious trauma, moral injury, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress might occur during psychologists’ training. Five elements underpin vicarious post-traumatic growth, four of which were reflected in this article. A need and suggestions for how to further develop vicarious post-traumatic growth are discussed. Conclusion This research could go on to be applied to curriculum development and practice policy, ultimately leading to improved early-intervention and ongoing systems of support for helping professionals. This, in turn, would improve quality of care in communities.

Vicarious Traumatization, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Burnout in Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Agency Staff

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Baird ◽  
Sharon Rae Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Vicarious Trauma ◽  
Adverse Reactions ◽  
Vicarious Traumatization ◽  
Occupational Hazards ◽  
Agency Staff ◽  
Agency Support ◽  
Trauma Counseling

This study investigated three occupational hazards of therapy with trauma victims: vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress (or “compassion fatigue”), which describe therapists’ adverse reactions to clients’ traumatic material, and burnout, a stress response experienced in many emotionally demanding “people work” jobs. Among 101 trauma counselors, client exposure workload and being paid as a staff member (vs. volunteer) were related to burnout sub-scales, but not as expected to overall burnout or vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, or general distress. More educated counselors and those seeing more clients reported less vicarious trauma. Younger counselors and those with more trauma counseling experience reported more emotional exhaustion. Findings have implications for training, treatment, and agency support systems.

scholarly journals Exploring influence and autoethnography: A dialogue between two counselling psychologists

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 162-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda C. Kracen ◽  
Katie Baird
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Vicarious Trauma ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Collaborative Dialogue ◽  
Dialogical Approach ◽  
Counselling Psychology

This article utilises a dialogical approach to explore the potential of autoethnography as a research method for counselling psychology while using the method to reflect on what it means to have influence as a researcher. We use a collaborative autoethnographical approach to explore the themes of influence, curiosity, rich insight and sincerity. We attempt to bring honesty and transparency to our collaborative dialogue about our previous work on vicarious trauma (VT) and secondary traumatic stress (STS), as well as how our themes are revealed in the different paths we have taken as counselling psychologists since our earlier collaboration. We consider what it means to influence, to be influential, and to be influenced. Through our dialogue, we try to speak with authenticity about our experiences as colleagues, counselling psychologists, scientist practitioners, and human beings. We discuss both the potential contribution of autoethnographical approaches and the challenges of using these methods, for counselling psychologists.

scholarly journals Vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress in health care professionals

2017 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 42-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole A Guitar ◽  
Monica L Molinaro
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Vicarious Trauma ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic

Three-quarters of Canadians are exposed to a traumatic event sufficient to cause psychological trauma in their lifetime. In fact, post-traumatic stress disorder is a global health issue with a prevalence as high as 37%. Health care professionals trained to provide mental health treatment for these individuals are at risk of developing vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress, both of which result in adverse symptoms for the health care provider that often mimic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Vicarious trauma develops over time as the clinician is continually exposed to their clients’ traumatic experiences, while clinicians experiencing secondary traumatic stress begin to experience the symptoms of PTSD due to secondary exposure of the traumatic event. Both vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress cause mental, physical, and emotional issues for health care professionals that include burnout and decreased self-worth. Health care systems and administration should aim to develop training and professional education for health care providers. This review will emphasize what factors lead to the development of vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress, and what aids or supports can be implemented to treat the symptoms. The implications for policy development and training will be discussed.

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