Vicarious Trauma in Mental Health Professionals Following the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to perform an assessment for secondary traumatic stress (STS), vicarious trauma (VT) and workplace burnout for Australian mental health professionals involved in clinical practice. Methods: Recruited directly by mail, randomly selected participants were invited to submit a questionnaire by post or online. Of the 480 participants contacted, 152 mental health professionals completed the questionnaire, which contained measures of STS, VT and burnout. Results: Exposure to patients’ traumatic material did not affect STS, VT or burnout, contradicting the theory of the originators of STS and VT. Rather, it was found that work-related stressors best predicted therapist distress. Conclusions: These findings have significant implications for the direction of research and theory development in traumatic stress studies, calling into question the existence of secondary trauma-related phenomena and enterprises aimed at treating the consultants.

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CB-Art Interventions Implemented with Mental Health Professionals Working in a Shared War Reality: Transforming Negative Images and Enhancing Coping Resources

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17072287 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (7) ◽

pp. 2287 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dorit Segal-Engelchin ◽

Netta Achdut ◽

Efrat Huss ◽

Orly Sarid

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Vicarious Trauma ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Coping Resources ◽

Distress Symptoms ◽

Negative Images

Research on mental health professionals (MHPs) exposed to a shared war reality indicates that they are subject to emotional distress, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, and vicarious trauma. This article focuses on a CB-ART (cognitive behavioral and art-based) intervention implemented during the 2014 Gaza conflict with 51 MHPs who shared war-related experiences with their clients. The intervention included drawing pictures related to three topics: (1) war-related stressors, (2) coping resources, and (3) integration of the stressful image and the resources drawing. The major aims of the study were (1) to examine whether significant changes occurred in MHP distress levels after the intervention; (2) to explore the narratives of the three drawing and their compositional characteristics; and (3) to determine which of selected formats of the integrated drawing and compositional transformations of the stressful image are associated with greater distress reduction. Results indicate that MHP distress levels significantly decreased after the intervention. This stress-reducing effect was also reflected in differences between the compositional elements of the ‘stress drawing’ and the ‘integrated drawing,’ which includes elements of resources. Reduced distress accompanied compositional transformations of the stressful image. MHPs can further use the easily implemented intervention described here as a coping tool in other stressful situations.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress or simply burnout? Effect of trauma therapy on mental health professionals.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.1158766.619996 ◽

2009 ◽

Author(s):

Greg Carter

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽

Vicarious Trauma ◽

Trauma Therapy

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Wounded Healers: Coping with Vicarious Trauma among Mental Health Professionals

Philippine Social Science Journal ◽

10.52006/main.v4i4.433 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 30-39

Author(s):

Graziela B. Salvilla ◽

Chris John S. Bedoria

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Vicarious Trauma ◽

Professional Competence ◽

Holistic Approach ◽

Working Relationships ◽

Trauma Symptoms ◽

Exposure To Trauma

Mental health professionals have been experiencing vicarious trauma due to their exposure to trauma-related cases. This study explored the coping strategies used by mental health professionals in dealing with vicarious trauma. A purposive sample of five (5) mental health professionals participated in this study. The study utilized Narrative Inquiry and Thematic Analysis to explore the stories of handling trauma cases and construct the central themes of coping strategies from vicarious trauma among mental health professionals. Findings of the study generated six central themes: a) recognition of experienced vicarious trauma symptoms, b) healthy personal and working relationships, c) fulfilling self-preserving needs, d) regulation of thought processes, e) professional competence and due care, and f) fate and faith. The results provided a holistic approach to vicarious trauma that targeted all dimensions of an individual; emotional, physiological, cognitive, occupational, and spiritual.

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