Wounded Healers: Coping with Vicarious Trauma among Mental Health Professionals

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.

Empathy and Cognitive Processing as Factors Determining the Consequences of Secondary Exposure to Trauma Among Roman Catholic Clergymen

By helping individuals after traumatic experiences, the helper is also exposed to the consequences of trauma. The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of consequences of secondary exposure to trauma among clergymen and therapists (N = 140) helping victims of trauma in Poland. Symptoms of secondary traumatic stress (STS) were identified in 22.9% of the clergymen and 8.6% of therapists, and secondary posttraumatic growth (SPTG) in 61.4% of the clergymen and 42.9% of therapists. STS and SPTG predictors were identified based on regression models. In the case of clergymen, regret is a determinant of STS, and positive cognitive restructuring of SPTG. Research findings highlight the need to increase awareness of exposure to secondary trauma among the clergy, and for them to acquire greater skills for coping with stress.

The Lasting Effects of Early Adversity and Updating Ability on the Tendency to Develop PTSD Symptoms Following Exposure to Trauma in Adulthood

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) serve as a risk factor for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for those who experience additional adult trauma. However, while some individuals with ACEs develop severe PTSD symptoms following exposure to additional adult trauma, others do not. We propose that updating prior knowledge in the face of new inconsistent information may account for these individual differences. This notion is based on prior work showing that for individuals with a reduced ability to update negative-to-positive outcome associations, greater trauma is correlated with elevated PTSD symptoms. On the other hand, individuals with flexible updating do not develop such symptoms. Here, we tested whether these updating difficulties moderate the relationship between ACEs and PTSD symptoms following additional adult trauma. Firefighters (N=123, Mage=28.02, SDage=4.69) were assessed for childhood adversity and PTSD symptoms and completed a performance-based learning paradigm to evaluate updating difficulties. We predicted and found strong associations between ACEs and PTSD symptoms for individuals with reduced updating of negative–but not positive–outcomes. The results may serve as a first step toward improving mental health outcomes in individuals with ACEs and protecting them from the aversive effect of exposure to additional adult trauma.

An Exploration of New Zealand Crown Prosecutors' Experiences of Working with Potentially Traumatic Material and Emotions in the Courtroom

<p>The occupational exposure to trauma and its potential impacts among legal professionals working in the criminal justice system is an area that has historically been neglected and has only gained traction in recent years. Crown prosecutors, as a subset of practising criminal lawyers in New Zealand working with potentially traumatic material (PTM), are arguably at heightened risk of vicarious trauma (VT) and the need to engage in emotional labour (EL). The current study qualitatively investigated New Zealand Crown prosecutors’ experiences of working with PTM and emotions in their role through three key research questions: 1) What are New Zealand Crown prosecutors’ experiences of working with PTM? 2) What sort of EL do Crown prosecutors experience, if any, through working in the criminal courts? 3) What factors in their personal and professional lives might exacerbate or alleviate VT symptoms? Nineteen Crown prosecutors from four Crown Solicitor firms across New Zealand participated in the study. The data was analysed using thematic analysis to identify recurring themes across datasets. Crown prosecutors outlined the various negative symptoms they experienced from their work-related exposure to trauma (VT), as well as the different workplace and personal factors that both protected and exacerbated such symptoms. Further, they described routinely and mandatorily engaging in EL to mask their emotions as a function of their professional duties. EL also doubled as a protective measure for Crown prosecutors in the difficulties they faced in their role. These findings add to the growing body of literature on legal professionals which has preliminarily indicated they are an at-risk population for the negative impacts of VT and EL, which can be significant and enduring. More research must be dedicated to this population to understand the unique etiological pathways for both consequences of working with PTM and ultimately, provide empirically-sound recommendations that proactively address these occupational risks.</p>

An Exploration of New Zealand Crown Prosecutors' Experiences of Working with Potentially Traumatic Material and Emotions in the Courtroom

<p>The occupational exposure to trauma and its potential impacts among legal professionals working in the criminal justice system is an area that has historically been neglected and has only gained traction in recent years. Crown prosecutors, as a subset of practising criminal lawyers in New Zealand working with potentially traumatic material (PTM), are arguably at heightened risk of vicarious trauma (VT) and the need to engage in emotional labour (EL). The current study qualitatively investigated New Zealand Crown prosecutors’ experiences of working with PTM and emotions in their role through three key research questions: 1) What are New Zealand Crown prosecutors’ experiences of working with PTM? 2) What sort of EL do Crown prosecutors experience, if any, through working in the criminal courts? 3) What factors in their personal and professional lives might exacerbate or alleviate VT symptoms? Nineteen Crown prosecutors from four Crown Solicitor firms across New Zealand participated in the study. The data was analysed using thematic analysis to identify recurring themes across datasets. Crown prosecutors outlined the various negative symptoms they experienced from their work-related exposure to trauma (VT), as well as the different workplace and personal factors that both protected and exacerbated such symptoms. Further, they described routinely and mandatorily engaging in EL to mask their emotions as a function of their professional duties. EL also doubled as a protective measure for Crown prosecutors in the difficulties they faced in their role. These findings add to the growing body of literature on legal professionals which has preliminarily indicated they are an at-risk population for the negative impacts of VT and EL, which can be significant and enduring. More research must be dedicated to this population to understand the unique etiological pathways for both consequences of working with PTM and ultimately, provide empirically-sound recommendations that proactively address these occupational risks.</p>

Risk and protective factors for post-traumatic stress among New Zealand police personnel: a cross sectional study

PurposeThe purpose of this research was to examine which factors increase the risk of post-traumatic stress in police officers to assist with identifying strategies that will minimize its occurrence.Design/methodology/approachThis study of constabulary and non-constabulary members of the New Zealand Police has been based on an 80-question electronic survey, which was sent to all serving, resigned and retired members of the New Zealand Police Association, which number approximately 18,000. The survey included a series of questions that measured the post-traumatic stress that participants experienced.FindingsVariables associated with post-traumatic stress were examined using logistic regression modeling techniques. The study found that post-traumatic stress was prevalent among serving, resigned and retired police members and exposure to trauma, especially prolonged exposure, was significantly associated with post-traumatic stress. More than 49% of participants were found to have some post-traumatic stress symptoms and more than 14% of participants indicated a presumptive clinical diagnosis of post-traumatic stress.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of the research included not include questions relating to the Social Provisions Scale (SPS) and General Health Questionnaire, nor did it include police officer recruits. A further limitation was that it was a cross-sectional study.Originality/valueAn understanding as to which variables influence or increase post-traumatic stress disorder is important for police officers and the police institution. The findings from this study indicate that exposure to trauma is strongly associated with high levels of post-traumatic stress, while good sleep and relaxation decrease the influence of such variables.