VICARIOUS TRAUMAVICARIOUS TRAUMA

WHEN COMPASSION WHEN COMPASSION OVERWHELMS THE HELPEROVERWHELMS THE HELPER

What is VicariousTraumaWhat is VicariousTrauma

Vicarious trauma,Vicarious trauma, sometimes referred to sometimes referred to as as Compassion FatigueCompassion Fatigue is the impact on is the impact on the self that can occur when you care about the self that can occur when you care about other people who are suffering, in distress other people who are suffering, in distress or have been hurt and you feel responsible or have been hurt and you feel responsible to help them. If this compassion causes to help them. If this compassion causes you to be effected by negative changes in you to be effected by negative changes in your psychological, emotional, physical or your psychological, emotional, physical or spiritual well-being you may be suffering spiritual well-being you may be suffering from Vicarious Trauma.from Vicarious Trauma.

Risk FactorRisk Factor

What makes some helpers more What makes some helpers more vulnerable to vicarious trauma than vulnerable to vicarious trauma than others. others.

Understanding the risk factors can Understanding the risk factors can help identify your personal help identify your personal vulnerability and explore how you vulnerability and explore how you might be able to lower these risks.might be able to lower these risks.

Risk FactorsRisk Factors

Personal Characteristics and LifestylePersonal Characteristics and Lifestyle Work EnvironmentWork Environment ContextContext

Risk FactorsRisk Factors

Personal Characteristics and Personal Characteristics and Lifestyle:Lifestyle: Personality and coping style Personality and coping style Personal history Personal history Current life circumstances Current life circumstances Social support Social support Spiritual resources Spiritual resources Work style Work style 

Risk FactorsRisk Factors

The Work Environment:The Work Environment: Professional role, work setting, and Professional role, work setting, and

exposure exposure Agency support Agency support Affected population’s responses and Affected population’s responses and

reactionsreactions

Risk FactorsRisk Factors

The Context:The Context: Culture – (are there cultural specific Culture – (are there cultural specific

issues which arise, such as language, issues which arise, such as language, beliefs, ability to engage)beliefs, ability to engage)

Resources at large – (what resources Resources at large – (what resources and what is the capacity of resources for and what is the capacity of resources for support of community members)support of community members)

Community Factors (ie large number of Community Factors (ie large number of new immigrants, First Nations, Plant new immigrants, First Nations, Plant Closure)Closure)

Reflective QuestionReflective Question

What are your risk factors under What are your risk factors under each of the 3 categories?each of the 3 categories?

Personal Characteristics/lifestylePersonal Characteristics/lifestyle

Work EnvironmentWork Environment

ContextContext

Which area produces your highest Which area produces your highest risk factors?risk factors?

Burn Out vs Vicarious TraumaBurn Out vs Vicarious Trauma

These are not the These are not the same: same:

BurnoutBurnout Vicarious TraumaVicarious Trauma

CumulativeCumulative More ImmediateMore Immediate

PredictablePredictable Less PredictableLess Predictable

Work Work Dissatisfaction Dissatisfaction

Life DissatisfactionLife Dissatisfaction

Can lead to health Can lead to health problemsproblems

Can lead to health Can lead to health problemsproblems

Feel under PressureFeel under Pressure Feel Out of ControlFeel Out of Control

Signs and SymptomsSigns and Symptoms

* Difficulty managing affect* Difficulty managing affect* Not feeling okay about self ** Not feeling okay about self ** Relationship problem* Relationship problem* Health Problems (becoming chronic)* Health Problems (becoming chronic)* Problem Solving difficult* Problem Solving difficult* Boundaries not as clear (work/home)* Boundaries not as clear (work/home)* Feeling disconnected to work/home ** Feeling disconnected to work/home ** Loss of meaning/value of life ** Loss of meaning/value of life ** Feeling of Powerlessness* Feeling of Powerlessness* Taking on too much responsibility* Taking on too much responsibility* Staying at work all hours, taking work home* Staying at work all hours, taking work home* Trying to control lives of others * Trying to control lives of others * Accident Prone* Accident Prone* Cynicism ** Cynicism *

Signs and SymptomsSigns and Symptoms

* Addictive Behaviours* Addictive Behaviours* Hyperarousal/Hypervigilence ** Hyperarousal/Hypervigilence ** Avoidance of strong emotions* Avoidance of strong emotions* Emotional volatility* Emotional volatility* Fear* Fear* Triggers (connected to client trauma) ** Triggers (connected to client trauma) ** Guilt* Guilt* Sexual/Intimacy difficulties* Sexual/Intimacy difficulties* Impulsivity* Impulsivity* Feeling numb ** Feeling numb ** Sensitivity to violence* Sensitivity to violence* Decrease in pleasurable activities* Decrease in pleasurable activities* Re-directing conversations which create distress* Re-directing conversations which create distress* Absence from work* Absence from work

Reflective QuestionsReflective Questions

1. Have you noticed having any of the symptoms in the 1. Have you noticed having any of the symptoms in the last last month?month?

2. Have you noticed any colleagues exhibiting any of the 2. Have you noticed any colleagues exhibiting any of the symptoms?symptoms?

3. What symptoms are the most difficult for you to 3. What symptoms are the most difficult for you to manage?manage?

4. 4. How do you differentiate between having some of How do you differentiate between having some of the the symptoms and having VT?symptoms and having VT?

Impact on World ViewImpact on World View

One of the hallmarks of VT is how our view of life and the One of the hallmarks of VT is how our view of life and the world around us is impacted. This is also connected to the world around us is impacted. This is also connected to the issue of transference/counter-transference and the helper issue of transference/counter-transference and the helper seeing the world in many of the same ways as the seeing the world in many of the same ways as the person(s) being worked with.person(s) being worked with.

i.e. i.e. Feelings of being helpless/hopeless/PowerlessFeelings of being helpless/hopeless/PowerlessFeelings of lack of safety, trustFeelings of lack of safety, trustAlienation from othersAlienation from othersShattered assumptions about basic beliefsShattered assumptions about basic beliefsLoss of Faith (anger with God)Loss of Faith (anger with God)

Personal StrategiesPersonal Strategies

- Good nutrition- Good nutrition- Exercise- Exercise

- Rest- Rest- Social Connections outside of work - Social Connections outside of work - Spiritual/Faith Life- Spiritual/Faith Life- Personal Goals- Personal Goals- Hobbies, interests- Hobbies, interests- Avoid taking work home- Avoid taking work home- Connect with positive/supportive peers- Connect with positive/supportive peers- Volunteer work with is totally different- Volunteer work with is totally different

Agency StrategiesAgency Strategies

- Policies that recognize VT- Policies that recognize VT- Support for staff is ongoing and positive- Support for staff is ongoing and positive- Effective Supervision- Effective Supervision- Use of Reflective Practice- Use of Reflective Practice- Balanced Workload- Balanced Workload- Debriefing after major incidents- Debriefing after major incidents- Limit Setting for Staff who can’t- Limit Setting for Staff who can’t- Humour/Fun/Creativity- Humour/Fun/Creativity- Diverse workload when cases difficult- Diverse workload when cases difficult- Recognition of workers/Appreciation- Recognition of workers/Appreciation- Access to supportive help (ie. EAP programs)- Access to supportive help (ie. EAP programs)

#1 Protective Strategy#1 Protective Strategy

BALANCEBALANCE

BalanceBalance

What can get out of balance?What can get out of balance?

BalanceBalance

- Work Life- Work Life- Home Life- Home Life- Roles- Roles- Feelings- Feelings- Eating, Sleeping- Eating, Sleeping- Relationships- Relationships- Boundaries- Boundaries- Self Esteem- Self Esteem- Exercise- Exercise

BalanceBalance

Reflective Questions:Reflective Questions:

What is in balance; what is there too much of; what is there What is in balance; what is there too much of; what is there too little of:too little of:

Complete the Worksheet in your handout:Complete the Worksheet in your handout:

Preventive MeasuresPreventive Measures

PERSONAL: PERSONAL:

* Be aware of yourself and others* Be aware of yourself and others* Identify issues as early as possible* Identify issues as early as possible* Debrief any stressful event* Debrief any stressful event* Try something new* Try something new* Journal your thoughts and feelings* Journal your thoughts and feelings* Use Reflective Practice* Use Reflective Practice* Make time for fun* Make time for fun* Keep track of what is going well* Keep track of what is going well* Compliment others* Compliment others* Mindfullness* Mindfullness

Preventive MeasuresPreventive Measures

PersonalPersonal* Connect with positive people (energizers)* Connect with positive people (energizers)* Disconnect from negative people (drainers)* Disconnect from negative people (drainers)* Time Management skills* Time Management skills* Ask for help* Ask for help* Delegate* Delegate* Pursue Hobbies, interests that you enjoy* Pursue Hobbies, interests that you enjoy* Compartmentalize* Compartmentalize

- create Rituals for starting, ending work- create Rituals for starting, ending work- practice changing your thoughts- practice changing your thoughts- redirect yourself (puzzle, game, music)- redirect yourself (puzzle, game, music)

* Yoga * Yoga * Relaxation (try different types)* Relaxation (try different types)

Preventive MeasuresPreventive MeasuresAgency/ManagersAgency/Managers

* Policies supporting VT strategies* Policies supporting VT strategies* Training of managers and staff* Training of managers and staff* Policies and Protocols for staff safety* Policies and Protocols for staff safety* Debriefing on regular basis* Debriefing on regular basis* Access to mental health support* Access to mental health support* Reviewing and balancing caseloads* Reviewing and balancing caseloads* Diversifying caseloads* Diversifying caseloads* Creating fun, accepting environment* Creating fun, accepting environment* Stress relievers on site (exercise equipment, * Stress relievers on site (exercise equipment,

games, comfortable chairs, etc. games, comfortable chairs, etc.* Foster safe, effective teams* Foster safe, effective teams* Respond to issues, communicate to staff on them* Respond to issues, communicate to staff on them* Support Professional Development* Support Professional Development* Training and support for Transference/Counter-transference* Training and support for Transference/Counter-transference* Recognition and acknowledgement* Recognition and acknowledgement* Time off balance (may need to be directive)* Time off balance (may need to be directive)* Self Care Exercises/Activities* Self Care Exercises/Activities

If you are suffering from VTIf you are suffering from VT

There is nothing wrong with you as a There is nothing wrong with you as a personperson

You are not aloneYou are not alone It will be betterIt will be better Seek professional treatmentSeek professional treatment

Questions?????Questions?????