Helping the Helpers

Course overview

Trauma is a prevalent issue in the United States that can impact individuals, families, and communities. Some estimates show that 70% of adults will experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Each person who has been through trauma has their own unique experience. Still, the lasting impression of trauma can negatively affect a person's mental and physical health, their ability to cope and function, and their social, emotional, and/or spiritual well-being. More than ever, mental health professionals are providing support to clients who have experienced trauma while also living through similar traumatic events and stressors. These shared experiences, along with the nature of doing therapeutic work, can cause mental health professionals to have difficulty in their personal and professional lives. They may also experience a range of responses to their work, including vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and/or burnout. This course will provide an overview of vicarious trauma, including risk factors, symptoms, and the ethical implications that may go along with it. Secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout will be reviewed with a focus on how these responses are different from vicarious trauma. Individual self-care techniques will also be offered, along with suggestions for creating a trauma-informed workplace.