What Am I
The profound shift in world view that occurs in people when they work with individuals who have experienced trauma: their fundamental beliefs about the world are altered and possibly damaged
What is vicarious trauma?
Vicarious trauma only affects therapists and victim advocates who work directly with clients.
What is false?
It can affect anyone repeatedly exposed to traumatic material, including forensic interviewers, case coordinators, supervisors, medical staff, and administrative employees.
Burnout is most closely associated with prolonged ______.
What is workplace stress?
Increasingly believing that people cannot be trusted reflects a change in a person's sense of ______.
What is trust?
You leave a difficult client and realize your shoulders are tense and you have been holding your breath. What is your best immediate move?
You could pause, breathe slowly, and release the tension.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
A combination of physical, emotional and spiritual depletion associated with caring for individuals with significant emotional pain and physical distress
What is compassion fatique?
Feeling distressed after a particularly difficult case automatically means someone has vicarious trauma.
What is false?
A temporary reaction can be a normal response. Vicarious trauma generally involves cumulative, lasting changes in beliefs or worldview.
Secondary traumatic stress can produce symptoms similar to ______.
What is PTSD?
Expecting danger everywhere, even when there is no specific threat reflects a change in a person's sense of ______.
What is safety?
You and a coworker both say, “That case is coming home with me today.” What could you do before leaving?
You could have a brief peer check-in or grounding break?
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Experiencing intrusive images and nightmares after hearing a distressing disclosure
What is secondary trauma?
Vicarious trauma can affect a helper’s beliefs about safety, trust, control, and relationships.
What is true?
A change in worldview is one of its distinguishing features.
Compassion fatigue can reduce a helper’s capacity for ______.
What is empathy or compassion?
Repeated exposure to trauma stories, causing someone to become more cynical and begin questioning whether their work makes any difference.
What is a change in meaning?
You notice that one type of case is affecting you more strongly than usual. What should you do first?
What is acknowledge the change and discuss it in supervision?
THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO! : )
Physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged workplace stress, often involving excessive demands, insufficient resources, or a lack of control.
What is burnout?
If symptoms improve significantly during time away from work, the best explanation is always burnout.
What is false?
Improvement with rest can suggest burnout, but it does not rule out compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, or vicarious trauma.
Vicarious trauma can gradually change a helper’s ______.
What is worldview?
Questioning personal judgment and no longer feeling confident making decisions that were once handled comfortably.
What is a change in self-trust or esteem?
Your coworker has become unusually withdrawn, irritable, and cynical. What is a helpful way to approach them?
What is privately check in with concern rather than judgment?
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
A victim advocate who once enjoyed crowded events now automatically scans every room for exits, closely monitors unfamiliar adults around their children, and believes danger is present even when there is no specific threat.
What is vicarious trauma?
Burnout and secondary traumatic stress can be experienced at the same time.
What is true?
Someone may be exhausted by workload and staffing demands while also experiencing nightmares or intrusive thoughts related to clients’ trauma.
A helper’s reaction becomes a concern when it is persistent, increases in intensity, or begins to interfere with ______.
What is daily functioning?
After repeated exposure to trauma, a helper struggles to reconcile clients’ experiences with their beliefs about fairness, goodness, or purpose.
What is a disruption in meaning or worldview?
Your caseload is full, your inbox is overflowing, and three tasks were labeled “urgent” before lunch. What is your best first move?
What is pause and ask your supervisor to help prioritize the workload?
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?