scholarly journals Wounded Healers: Coping with Vicarious Trauma among Mental Health Professionals

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.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Vicarious Trauma in Mental Health Professionals

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. e25-e31 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Finklestein ◽  
E. Stein ◽  
T. Greene ◽  
I. Bronstein ◽  
Z. Solomon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Vicarious Trauma ◽  
Stress Disorder

Strategies used to reduce vicarious trauma for mental health professionals

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica C. Hawkins ◽  
Fredrica Hendrix ◽  
Tina Houston-Armstrong ◽  
Mattie President ◽  
Rebecca Vivrette
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Vicarious Trauma

As a Professional, I Don’t Need to Worry About Self-Care

2019 ◽  
pp. 148-153
Author(s):  
Jeffrey E. Barnett ◽  
Jeffrey Zimmerman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Professional Competence ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Mental Health Clinicians ◽  
Personal Lives ◽  
Over Time

All mental health professionals are at risk for developing symptoms of burnout and other stress-related difficulties over time. The practice of mental health can be very challenging and demanding. Mental health clinicians bring with them their own histories of emotional vulnerabilities, and they experience challenges and difficulties in their personal lives. These factors can combine to place mental health clinicians at risk for experiencing problems with professional competence and judgment. This chapter explains these challenges and risks as well as the role ongoing self-care can play to prevent these difficulties. Self-care is explained, and examples are provided to illustrate the range of actions one may take to maintain ongoing wellness and competence. Risk factors and blind spots are highlighted, potential pitfalls to avoid are reviewed, and recommendations for addressing these proactively are provided.

Counseling Military Veterans: Advocating for Culturally Competent and Holistic Interventions

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Carrola ◽  
Marilyn Corbin-Burdick
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Military Veterans ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Culturally Competent ◽  
Unique Nature

The large number of military personnel returning from combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan with symptoms of mental illness has led to increased focus on specialized veteran mental health treatment and posttraumatic stress disorder. While this focus is both beneficial and warranted, it may lead to a myopic view of the experiences and needs of veterans. This article examines the responsibility of mental health professionals to balance the unique nature of veterans' experiences with their individual diversity rather than viewing them or their experiences through a strictly pathological lens. Failing to take a holistic approach to counseling each veteran may inadvertently stigmatize veterans as a group. The value of wellness counseling and the risks of over-pathologizing symptoms underscore the need to take a more diverse approach to counseling veterans and assist them with reintegration into their communities.

scholarly journals Vicarious Trauma, Secondary Traumatic Stress or Simply Burnout? Effect of Trauma Therapy on Mental Health Professionals

2009 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 373-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant J. Devilly ◽  
Renee Wright ◽  
Tracey Varker
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Vicarious Trauma ◽  
Secondary Trauma ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Stress Studies

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.

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

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2287 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Recovery-Oriented Intersectoral Care in Mental Health: As Perceived by Healthcare Professionals and Users

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (23) ◽  
pp. 8777
Author(s):  
Kim Jørgensen ◽  
Tonie Rasmussen ◽  
Morten Hansen ◽  
Kate Andreasson ◽  
Bengt Karlsson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Study Participant ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Main Theme ◽  
Written Information ◽  
Group Interviews

This study aimed to explore how mental health professionals and users perceive recovery-oriented intersectoral care when comparing mental health hospitals and community mental healthcare. Methodological design: Five audio-recorded focus group interviews of nurses, other health professionals and users were explored using manifest and latent content analysis. Ethical issues and approval: The study was designed in accordance with the ethical principles of the Helsinki Declaration and Danish law. Each study participant in the two intersectoral sectors gave their informed consent after verbal and written information was provided. Findings: From the health professionals’ perspective, the main theme informed by subthemes and categories was formulated: ‘Recovery-oriented intersectoral care requires more coordination and desire for collaboration’. Two subthemes were subsequently formulated: ‘The users´ perspective of the centre’ and ‘Need for a common agenda and understanding of recovery-oriented intersectoral care’. From the users´ perspective, the main theme was formulated as: ‘Recovery-oriented intersectoral care in tension between medical- and holistically oriented care’. This theme was informed by two subthemes: ‘The users´ perspective is not in focus’ and ‘A trusting relationship and a holistic approach brings coherence’. Conclusions: This study reveals that health professionals want to work in a recovery-oriented manner in intersectoral care, but several challenges appear which make achieving this aim difficult. A common understanding of recovery and how it should be carried out in intersectoral care does not exist. Care decisions are primarily made paternalistically, where the users’ and relatives’ voices are ignored. In an attempt to create coherence across sectors, intersectoral network meetings have been established with health professionals from both sectors. However, the meetings are characterised by a lack of a clear purpose regarding the meeting structure and content, and users are only minimally involved. Our results can contribute to dealing with the challenges of incorporating recovery-oriented intersectoral care as an ideology in all psychiatric and municipal contexts and is, therefore, important for health professionals and users.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document