Strategies for Reducing Secondary or Vicarious Trauma: Do They Work?

TLDR

Intervention strategies for trauma counselors that focus on education and augmenting coping skills unduly individualize the problem. The study assessed whether therapists believed in and engaged in recommended prevention strategies for secondary and vicarious trauma and whether such engagement lowered distress. Among 259 therapists, time spent counseling trauma victims best predicted trauma scores, yet beliefs in coping strategies did not translate into practice and no association was found between time devoted to coping strategies and traumatic stress scores. Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 6:1–9 (2006).

Abstract

This cross-sectional design study sought to assess whether therapists believed and engaged in commonly recommended forms of prevention for secondary and vicarious trauma and whether engaging in these activities resulted in lower levels of distress. In this study of 259 therapists, time spent with counseling trauma victims was the best predictor of trauma scores. Although participants generally believed in the usefulness of recommended coping strategies including leisure activities, self-care activities and supervision, these beliefs did not translate into time devoted to engaging in the activities. Most importantly, there was no association between time devoted to coping strategies and traumatic stress scores. Intervention strategies for trauma counselors that focus on education of therapists and augmenting coping skills unduly individualize the problem. [Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 6:1–9 (2006)]