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Managing Vicarious Trauma Presented by Penny Gordon. Presentation Outline. Origins of Vicarious Trauma (VT). What is VT. Contributing factors. Potential impact. Management strategies. Definition Of Burnout.
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Presentation Outline • Origins of Vicarious Trauma (VT). • What is VT. • Contributing factors. • Potential impact. • Management strategies.
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)
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.
Definition Of Vicarious Traumatisation (VT) • VT is the transformation of the worker’s inner experience as a result of empathic engagement with clients and their trauma material. (Pearlman & Saakvitne, 1995)
Characteristics Of Vicarious Trauma • Cumulative. • Inevitable. • Developmental. • Modifiable.
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)
Signs And Symptoms Of Vicarious Trauma • Behavioural. • Physical. • Cognitive. • Affective. • Frame of reference.
Vicarious Traumatisation:Psychological Impacts • Safety. • Intimacy. • Self esteem. • Control. • Trust. (Saakvitne, Pearlman, & TSI Staff, 1996)
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.
Individual StrategiesSelf Care • Physical. • Psychological. • Emotional. • Spiritual. • Workplace/Professional.
Characteristics Of Emotional Intelligence • Knowing one’s emotions – self awareness. • Managing emotions. • Motivating oneself. • Recognising emotions in others. • Handling relationships. (Goleman, 1998)
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.
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. • Don’t forget and don’t give up.
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?
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.
