Vicarious Trauma

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Managing the Effects of Vicarious Trauma
Willard Fewer, M.Sc.
Registered Psychologist

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3. * Burnout
* Compassion Fatigue
* Vicarious Trauma
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7. * “Vicarious trauma is a process
whereby the helper’s cognitive
beliefs and schemas are changed
as a result of the work that they
do with survivors of painful and
abusive experiences. “
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8. * Cumulative
* Transformative Effect
* On the Helper of survivors
* Of traumatic life events
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11. * We Care (medics vs. combat soldiers)
* There is too much work
* Children (client or our own) may make us
particularly vulnerable
* Often organizational supports are scarce
* Our own histories
* Our life circumstances (what gives you satisfaction,
makes you feel worthwhile?)
* Nature of clientele – ability to act on our coaching/
support
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13. * •Professional Quality of Life Scale, Stamm,
2008 (Compassion Fatigue)
* •http://www.proqol.org/ProQol_Test.html
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14. * Often angry and irritable
* Startle easily
* Changes in eating – too much or too little
* Losing sleep/nightmares about clients
* Intrusive thoughts about clients and their experiences
* Loss of ability to enjoy previously enjoyable activities/
events
* Feelings of hopelessness related to work/clients
* Loss of meaning/hope
* Distancing from family or friends
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17. * Physically
* Mentally
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18. * “Goal-less” time
* “Watch the grass grow”
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19. * Laughter
* Play with regular children, healthy people
* Express your creativity
* Be physically active
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20. * Make self-care a priority
* “A good worker takes care of their tools.”
* Associate with positive and healthy people
* If it doesn’t exist, build it!
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21. * Awareness
* Balance
* Connection
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25. * Reset attitude towards the work:
* We are a coach, “midwife”, mentor –
responsibility for healing lies in client
* Clarify your sense of meaning and purpose in life
* Social activism vs. individual activism
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26. * Get educated about trauma and the effects on
you and on client
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27. * Get supervision from someone who understands
the client’s troubles and the likely impact on
helpers
* Use team support or colleague support (Field
of Dreams: Build it and they will come!)
* Don’t pass on the VT to your supporters – It
CAN be contagious
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28. * Professional support/therapy for yourself if
needed
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29. * The capacity for humans to overcome adversity
and do well
* Resilience of traumatized people
* “Let go and Let God”
* Our own humility
* We are not Sisyphus
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32. * Copy of PowerPoint
Email: wfewer@shaw.ca
* Web links to resources: wfewer.com
“Resource & Links” tab
* Or, Google “Vicarious Trauma”
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under

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