VICARIOUS TRAUMA - cssd.ctclearinghouse.org
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VICARIOUS TRAUMA
How To Take Care of Yourself, Your
Clients, Your Peers, and Your Program
if the Unthinkable Happens
Mary-K O’Sullivan, LMFT, LADC, LPC
The High Risk Clients We
Serve Are Affected By:
Violent Crime
Domestic Violence
Childhood Abuse
Mental Illness
Addiction
Homelessness
Self-harm
They all will ask us to participate
in their experiences
When A Client Dies
Suicide
• Were you concerned
about the client
beforehand?
• Had you considered the
need for an
intervention?
• Had you planned to do
something that you had
not done?
• Did you cancel an
appointment or not
return a phone call
prior to the suicide?
Other Unexpected
• Were there any prior
signs? (Illness)
• Was it the result of
violence? (Crime)
• Was it likely an
accident? (Overdose)
When A Client Dies
• How do I rectify my
relationship with the client
with the feelings of loss?
• How do I grieve this loss?
• How do I honor this client’s
memory?
• Where do I turn for
support?
• Are my feelings normal?
• How am I supposed to
behave?
Workplace Violence
• What Occurred?
• Who Was Impacted?
• Who Was The Perpetrator?
(Client, Colleague, Stranger)
• Did It Come From a Trusted Person?
• Was Anyone Injured or Killed?
• Duration of the Incident?
• Were You Present?
• Were Clients Present?
• What Was Your Involvement?
• Survivor Guilt?
Unresolved Grief - Defenses
If I Show My Emotions
Will People Think:
• That I was over-
involved or
inappropriately
involved with the client
• That I can’t do my job
• That I can’t be
objective
• That I have poor
boundaries
Supporting Colleagues Through
Vicarious Trauma
• Be Mindful & Kind At All
Times
• Treat Others As They Want
To Be Treated (Platinum
Rule) Don’t Assume; Ask
• Support that Your
Colleague’s Feelings Aren’t
Right or Wrong; They Just
Are; They Shouldn’t Be
Denied or Ignored; It Is
Safe to Share Them
(Be Accepting & Affirming)
SUPPORTIVE COMMUNICATION TO
ASSIST COLLEAGUES WITH VICARIOUS
TRAUMA
VALIDATING:
• I am sorry this happened
to you
• It is understandable that
you feel that way
• How Can I help?
• What can be done to
support you?
NOT VALIDATING
• I know how you feel
• I understand
• You’ll get over it
• Everything is going to be
alright
• You shouldn’t feel that
way
How Do You Practice These
In The Workplace After A
Trauma?
Taking Care Of Ourselves
• Stay Home & Care For
Yourself When Sick
• Resolve Personal Issues To
Avoid Transference &
Countertransference
• De-obligate Yourself
• Recognize Stress Signs:
Physically, Socially,
Spiritually, and Emotionally
• Make “I’m Fine” Dirty Words!
• Participate Actively In
Training To Learn To Increase
Skill Levels To Offset Time
Constraints
• Ask for support and help of
our colleagues and
supervisors
• INFUSE HUMOR INTO EVERY
DAY AND SHARE IT
Signs of Unresolved
Vicarious Trauma
• Physical Exhaustion Even After Rest
• Emotional Lability: Over or Under Reacting
• Minimizing Feelings of Stress
• Feeling Isolated or Detached
• Blaming Those We Serve
• Having Pessimism That Change Can Happen
• Feeling Helpless
• Feeling Immobilized and Cynical
• Changed Views About Families, Relationships, Legal
and Other Systems, People In General
• Numbness To What At One Time Aroused Strong
Feelings
• Distrust of co-workers, supervisors, the agency or
system in which you work
• Difficulty in relating to others who do not do similar
work to yours
• Stressors are
Recognized and
Validated
• Communication is Open,
Effective, Clear, &
Direct; No Sanctions if
Done Respectfully
• Cohesion Exists in the
Entire Work Group; Staff
Self-monitors for
Excellence
• Teamwork & Respect Is
the Focus
• No GOSSIPING: The goal
is to do the job well, not
develop a social network
• Resources are Used
Efficiently
• There is a Flexibility of
Roles Across All Staff
• Staff Feel Safe & Secure
Speaking to Supervisors
• Be Kind & Humane
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