Managing Vicarious Trauma Presented by Penny Gordon

1
ManagingVicarious TraumaPresented byPenny
Gordon
2
Presentation Outline

• Origins of Vicarious Trauma (VT).
• What is VT.
• Contributing factors.
• Potential impact.
• Management strategies.

3
Definition Of Burnout

• Burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion,
  depersonalisation, and reduced personal
  accomplishment that can occur among individuals
  who work with people in some capacity.
• (Maslach, Jackson, Leiter, 1996)

4
Symptoms Of Burnout

• Affective e.g., depressed mood, emotional
  exhaustion.
• Cognitive e.g., poor concentration.
• Physical e.g., headaches, sleep disturbances.
• Behavioural e.g., poor work performance.
• Motivational e.g., loss of idealism
• One core indicator is consistently identified
  exhaustion.

5
Definition Of Vicarious Traumatisation (VT)

• VT is the transformation of the workers inner
  experience as a result of empathic engagement
  with clients and their trauma material.
• (Pearlman Saakvitne, 1995)

6
Characteristics Of Vicarious Trauma

• Cumulative.
• Inevitable.
• Developmental.
• Modifiable.

7
Factors Contributing To Vicarious Trauma

• Nature of work.
• Nature of clientele.
• Nature of work setting.
• Nature of the helper.
• Nature of the social/cultural/
• political context.
• (Saakvitne, Pearlman, TSI Staff, 1996)

8
Signs And Symptoms Of Vicarious Trauma

• Behavioural.
• Physical.
• Cognitive.
• Affective.
• Frame of reference.

9
Vicarious TraumatisationPsychological Impacts

• Safety.
• Intimacy.
• Self esteem.
• Control.
• Trust.
• (Saakvitne, Pearlman, TSI Staff, 1996)

10
Organisational Strategies

• A team culture of self and group care.
• Planning and working for the long haul.
• Creating a safe environment to express feelings.
• Valuing socialising, fun and humour.
• Education and workshops re VT.
• Ensuring some nontrauma component of work.

11
Individual StrategiesSelf Care

• Physical.
• Psychological.
• Emotional.
• Spiritual.
• Workplace/Professional.

12
Characteristics Of Emotional Intelligence

• Knowing ones emotions self awareness.
• Managing emotions.
• Motivating oneself.
• Recognising emotions in others.
• Handling relationships.
• (Goleman, 1998)

13
Making A Personal Commitment To Self Why?

• Because I can get hurt.
• Because I matter.
• Because my clients matter.
• Because the work I do matters.

14
Making A Personal Commitment To Self How?

• Not alone get a buddy or a group.
• One day at a time.
• One change at a time.
• Use a variety of self care strategies.
• Increase consciousness and self acceptance.
• Dont forget and dont give up.

15
Self Care Plan

• Self care strategies I currently practice.
• Potential new strategies.
• What will help me implement these?
• What will get in the way?
• How will I know when I have been successful at
  managing my self care?

16
References

• Goleman, D. (1998). Emotional Intelligence. New
  York Bantam Books.
• Maslach, C., Jackson, S.E., Leiter, M. (1996)
  Maslach Burnout Inventory Manual (3rd ed.).
• Saakvitne, K.W., Pearlman, L.A., Staff of the
  Traumatic Stress Institute (1996). Transforming
  the pain A workbook for professionals. New York
  Norton.
• Pearlman, L. A., Saakvitne, K. W. (1995).
  Trauma and the therapist Countertransference and
  vicarious traumatisation in psychotherapy with
  incest survivors. New York Norton.