Vicarious Trauma, also known as Compassion Fatigue or Secondary Traumatic Stress, refers to the cumulative effect of working with survivors of traumatic life events. Signs of Vicarious Trauma may include feeling overwhelmed, negative emotions, health problems, diminished self-worth, and avoiding work duties.
Therapists who work with young traumatized children have between a six percent and 26 percent risk of experiencing Vicarious Trauma due to repeated exposure to trauma stories and their empathic relationship with children who may be difficult to engage with. Additional risk factors include blurred boundaries, the inability to say "no", a history of personal trauma, and repeated exposure to traumatic stories or events.
Strategies for coping at work include seeking support from others, seeking supervision, maintaining appropriate boundaries with clients, decreasing your case load, striving for balance between work and your personal life, and practicing self-care and relaxation techniques.
For more information, visit the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and download the NCTSN Secondary Traumatic Stress Fact Sheet.
National Child Traumatic Stress Learning Center (5.03.12). Emotional challenges and self-care for those working with young traumatized children. Retrieved May 3, 2012, from http://learn.NCTSN.org.
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Thursday
Sunday
Counselor Fatigue Syndromes
The term Counselor Fatigue Syndromes is used to group various professional fatigue reactions that can negatively impact a counselor. Counselor Fatigue Syndromes include Empathy Fatigue Syndrome, Compassion Fatigue Syndrome, and Burnout Syndrome.
The American Counseling Association's Task Force on Counselor Wellness and Impairment (ACA, 2004) identified targeted prevention and resiliency education for counselors as an area for further development. It is important to understand, and be able to identify, the job-related stressors that can place counselors at risk of developing a Counselor Fatigue Syndrome, with negative effects to psychological and/or physical health, as well as an increased risk for ethical or legal violations.
Mental health professionals and graduate counseling students who are knowledgeable of the signs and symptoms of Counselor Fatigue Syndromes can utilize this information in identifying healthy coping strategies when creating a Counselor Wellness Plan.
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The American Counseling Association's Task Force on Counselor Wellness and Impairment (ACA, 2004) identified targeted prevention and resiliency education for counselors as an area for further development. It is important to understand, and be able to identify, the job-related stressors that can place counselors at risk of developing a Counselor Fatigue Syndrome, with negative effects to psychological and/or physical health, as well as an increased risk for ethical or legal violations.
Mental health professionals and graduate counseling students who are knowledgeable of the signs and symptoms of Counselor Fatigue Syndromes can utilize this information in identifying healthy coping strategies when creating a Counselor Wellness Plan.
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Friday
Healthy Relationships
In the field of mental health counseling, there is a high degree of emotional investment and interpersonal involvement in our work.
Work-related experiences, both positive and negative, can have an impact on all our relationships, whether it be work-related colleagues or clients, or in our personal life with family and friends.
It's important to remember that any relationship can become stressful at times. However, if negative work-related experiences are spilling over into your personal life, it is time to practice self-care.
Maintaining healthy relationships is a sign of good self-care!
Healthy relationships include:
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Work-related experiences, both positive and negative, can have an impact on all our relationships, whether it be work-related colleagues or clients, or in our personal life with family and friends.
It's important to remember that any relationship can become stressful at times. However, if negative work-related experiences are spilling over into your personal life, it is time to practice self-care.
Maintaining healthy relationships is a sign of good self-care!
Healthy relationships include:
- Good communication
- Mutual respect
- Respecting individuality
- Freedom to express yourself
- Encouraging other relationships
- Trust and Support
- Resolving conflicts fairly
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Burnout Syndrome
Burnout is a syndrome of exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy and is a serious health risk for counselors.
Burnout is the result of direct client contact and chronic job-related stressors, i.e., work environment stress, client-induced stress, event-related stress, or self-induced stress.
Symptoms:
Emotional Exhaustion: Feelings of being emotional overextended and psychologically drained by job-related stressors.
Depersonalization: Impersonal or unfeeling responses towards the people who are receiving services or treatment.
Lack of Personal Accomplishment: Dissatisfaction with level of job-related achievements and feeling incompetent when working with clients and/or co-workers.
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Burnout is the result of direct client contact and chronic job-related stressors, i.e., work environment stress, client-induced stress, event-related stress, or self-induced stress.
Symptoms:
Emotional Exhaustion: Feelings of being emotional overextended and psychologically drained by job-related stressors.
Depersonalization: Impersonal or unfeeling responses towards the people who are receiving services or treatment.
Lack of Personal Accomplishment: Dissatisfaction with level of job-related achievements and feeling incompetent when working with clients and/or co-workers.
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