More information
For information on support and services provided to professionals suffering
from vicarious traumatization, also referred to as compassion fatigue,
the Office for Victims of Crimes (OVC: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/help/vt.htm
) recommends contacting the following organizations:
Gift From Within
http://www.giftfromwithin.org/
Dedicated to those who suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
those at risk for PTSD, and those who care for traumatized individuals.
National Center for PTSD
http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/index.jsp
Aims to prevent and reduce PTSD and other adverse consequences of trauma.
Sidran Institute
http://www.sidran.org/
Offers information to empower survivors, educate loved ones, and support
clinicians.
Vicarious trauma and you
At one point or another in social service careers, many employees vicariously experience living traumatic events
Jason, a resident, is speaking in your group therapy session. He talks in detail about his favorite uncle abusing him for most of his childhood and the impact it has had on his life, how he then became sexually abusive toward others. You have two young boys of your own, ages nine and 12, and begin to wonder about their Uncle Charlie who takes them ice fishing and camping. You scold yourself for even thinking about it, but you can't stop worrying that perhaps Uncle Charlie, your sons' favorite uncle, (like Jason's uncle ) could abuse your children as well. Unfortunately, at one point or another in social service careers, many employees experience this problem: vicarious trauma.
What is it?
Vicarious trauma is the effect of being traumatized by witnessing or learning
about someone else's trauma-"vicariously experience" living
tragic events. It can have a sudden onset, caused by witnessing a traumatic
event happening to someone else, or creep up on an individual by being
repetitively exposed to accounts of traumatic incidents occurring to someone
else. The best example as it applies to Nexus residential treatment site
staff is being traumatized by reading residents' case files or listening
to their experiences while in group therapy sessions.
The effects
Vicarious trauma can affect your perceptions of the world, your sense
of safety, your outlook on life, personal relationships, and even your
health. Since vicarious trauma is a very common and natural reaction to
working in environments such as social services, it is necessary to be
proactive in offsetting its effects.
What to do
There are ways to counteract the negative effects of vicarious trauma.
If you start to notice symptoms, it is important to take care of yourself
both physically and mentally, and talk with someone to help work toward
a positive resolution. Always have open communication with co-workers
and loved ones, engage in positive activities and hobbies outside of work,
and purposely nurture yourself-you deserve it!