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.

Reactions of Novice Interviewers Conducting Trauma Research With Marginalized Communities: A Qualitative Analysis

2019 ◽  
pp. 088626051988992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber M. Smith ◽  
Alison B. Hamilton ◽  
Tamra Loeb ◽  
Jennifer Pemberton ◽  
Gail E. Wyatt
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Growth ◽  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Vicarious Trauma ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Helping Professionals ◽  
Trauma Research ◽  
Training And Supervision

Trauma-focused research highlights the reactions of seasoned professionals when engaging with vulnerable clients; however, less is known about the common reactions of novices engaged in trauma research, who may lack the skills to cope and interact with traumatized participants. The purpose of this study is to (a) describe common reactions experienced by novice trauma interviewers; (b) examine whether the issues they face are similar to those of seasoned helping professionals; and (c) discuss ways in which training and supervision can increase the well-being of interviewers in trauma research. A semi-structured assessment was administered to novice interviewers who had previously conducted psychosocial and trauma assessments with diverse community participants. Participation was voluntary. The assessment elicited responses concerning secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, posttraumatic growth, and self-help and resources. Audio files were transcribed; responses were compiled to explore themes and identify illustrative quotes. Eight interviewers (two males, six females) participated. Six reported no prior experience working with populations with histories of trauma. Novice interviewers described experiences of secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, posttraumatic growth, and resilience. Novice interviewers described symptoms consistent with those reported by seasoned helping professionals; positive and negative symptoms often coexisted. Interviewers who completed more assessments described reactions of sadness, anger, insomnia, and changes in worldview. Interviewers who shared similar traumatic histories or environments reported more examples of countertransference. All reported similar feelings of posttraumatic growth, such as hope and optimism, for their participants and an increased appreciation of their resilience. Implications for training and supervision are discussed.

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 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.

Stress and burnout for helping professionals. Counselors navigating the COVID pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 11(73) ◽  
pp. 128-134
Author(s):  
Andreea Szilagyi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Professional Support ◽  
Special Consideration ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Helping Professionals ◽  
Stress Syndrome

Helping professionals are givers by vocation, and this generous trait is abundantly displayed by their commitment and determination to support others. Caring for others is their central business, which many times, in the absence of a solid training and various types of professional support, might affect their capacity to regroup and heal. This article addresses the most common sources of stress and burnout for helping professionals, with a special focus on counselors. Concepts like compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress are explored. The current pandemic is adding to those common stressors, making us consider the helping services from a different perspective. COVID Stress Syndrome is presented and potential implications for caregivers’ work are discussed. Special consideration is given to the counseling occupation in Romania.

Secondary traumatic stress and vicarious post-traumatic growth among social workers who have worked with abused children

2020 ◽  
pp. 146801732098136
Author(s):  
Shlomit Weiss-Dagan ◽  
Anant Ben-Porat ◽  
Haya Itzhaky
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Role Stress ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Abused Children ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Post Traumatic

Summary Working with abused children can have positive and negative implications for social workers. Some of these implications have been conceptualized as secondary traumatic stress and vicarious post-traumatic growth. The current study examined the question of whether these two phenomena share similar contributing factors. Based on the social-ecological theory and previous studies on secondary traumatic stress, we examined the contribution of personal factors and level of exposure to trauma (i.e. years of work experience, professional exposure to child abuse, mastery) and environmental factors (i.e. social support, supervision, and role stress) to the explained variance of secondary traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth, with the goal of understanding these two potential outcomes. This cross-sectional study comprised 255 social workers who worked with abused children. Findings The results showed that despite the correlation between the two outcomes—post-traumatic growth and secondary traumatic stress—they shared only one common predictive factor: the extent of social workers’ exposure to abused children. Role stress was correlated positively, and mastery was correlated negatively, with secondary traumatic stress only. Years of work experience was correlated positively with post-traumatic growth only. Applications The current study shows the importance of continuing efforts to identify the factors that contribute to post-traumatic growth. At the same time, efforts should be made to foster certain personal and environmental factors to reduce secondary traumatic stress levels.

Indirect Trauma in the Field Practicum: Secondary Traumatic Stress, Vicarious Trauma, and Compassion Fatigue Among Social Work Students and Their Field Instructors

2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-52
Author(s):  
Carolyn Knight
Keyword(s):  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Vicarious Trauma ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Field Instructors ◽  
Indirect Trauma ◽  
Agency Support

A sample of BSW students and their field instructors was assessed for the presence of indirect trauma, including secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, and compassion fatigue. Results indicated that students were at greater risk of experiencing vicarious trauma than their field instructors and research participants in previous studies. Risk factors for students and social workers included age, experience, gender, and placement in a child welfare setting. Race was a risk factor only for students. The results underscore the protective effects of advance preparation, agency support, and agency supervision, but also suggest that specific education about indirect trauma is lacking. Also discussed are the links among indirect trauma, burnout, and students' career aspirations, as well as suggestions for future research.

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