3.10 Vicarious Trauma
What is Vicarious Trauma?
Vicarious trauma is a process of change resulting from empathetic engagement with trauma survivors. Anyone who engages empathetically with survivors of traumatic incidents, torture, and material relating to their trauma, is potentially affected, including doctors and other health professionals. (British Medical Association 2022)
There is a difference between trauma and vicarious trauma. Vicarious traumatization is a negative reaction to trauma exposure and includes a range of psychosocial symptoms. There are many signs of vicarious trauma and it can present differently for everyone.
It’s important to understand that as professionals who work in the helping field vicarious trauma is an occupational hazard. Quite often we normalize challenging situations and don’t recognize how strongly things affect us.
For helping professionals who work with victims of trauma, their reaction to a client can be similar to the post-traumatic stress symptoms of a victim. It is important to be aware.
What is Vicarious Trauma?
Transcript
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How can you recognize vicarious trauma?
Visible changes include:
- becoming cynical or losing hope
- avoiding social or work contact
- becoming fearful and overprotective because the world is seen to be dangerous
- setting rigid boundaries in relationships or, displaying a lack of boundaries and rescuing others
- abandoning spiritual beliefs
Drowning in Empathy: The Cost of Vicarious Trauma
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Key Takeaways
- Helping professionals who work in the social field experience Vicarious trauma
- When working with others with trauma, vicarious trauma can occur
- There are many signs of vicarious trauma and it can present differently for everyone
For More Information:
Post-Traumatic Growth: Healing from Trauma and Vicarious Trauma
Transcript
To Access the Video Transcript:
1. Click on “YouTube” on the bottom-right of the video. This will take you directly to the YouTube video.
2. Click on the More Actions icon (represented by three horizontal dots)
3. Click on “Open Transcript”
Activity
Here is a quizlet activity on Vicarious Trauma:
References:
- Figure 3.11.1 – Unsplash License
- British Medical Association. (2022, January 17). Vicarious trauma: signs and strategies for coping. The British Medical Association Is the Trade Union and Professional Body for Doctors in the UK. https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/your-wellbeing/vicarious-trauma/vicarious-trauma-signs-and-strategies-for-coping
- CTRI. (2017b, October 16). What is Vicarious Trauma? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0917fqofw
- Here to Help, & Srdanovic, M. (n.d.). Vicarious Traumatization | Here to Help. Here to Help. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/vicarious-traumatization
- Phoenix Trauma Center & Dr. Scott Giacomucci. (2021, August 1). Post-Traumatic Growth: Healing from Trauma and Vicarious Trauma [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFGJI1o-ciQ
- Ted Talks. (2016, April 15). Drowning in Empathy: The Cost of Vicarious Trauma | Amy Cunningham | TEDxSanAntonio [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsaorjIo1Yc
