Unlike burnout, which is often about workload and environment, Vicarious Trauma is a fundamental shift in the therapist’s world view. It is an “occupational hazard” of trauma work, but with the right support, it can be managed and even transformed.
As helping professionals—psychologists, social workers, and counsellors—our greatest tool is our empathy. We lean in to hear stories of pain, loss, and survival so that we can help our clients heal. However, this deep engagement comes with a professional risk: Vicarious Trauma (VT).
How Vicarious Trauma Occurs
Vicarious trauma is the process of cognitive change resulting from empathic engagement with survivors of traumatic events.
It occurs through the cumulative “residue” of the stories we hear. When we repeatedly witness the details of trauma, our brains begin to integrate those experiences as if they were part of our own reality. Over time, this can erode our sense of safety, trust, and hope in the world.
Recognising the Signs
VT can be subtle, often creeping in over months or years. Common signs include:
- Cognitive Shifts: Feeling that the world is inherently dangerous or that people are untrustworthy.
- Intrusive Thoughts: Finding yourself thinking about a client’s trauma outside of work hours or having “secondary” flashbacks.
- Emotional Blunting: Feeling “numb” or less able to feel joy in your personal life.
- Hypervigilance: Being overly protective of your own children or loved ones based on what you’ve heard in sessions.
- Avoidance: Feeling a sense of dread before seeing certain clients or “checking out” during sessions.
Strategies for Prevention
Prevention is not about “toughening up”; it is about building a sustainable professional scaffolding.
- High-Quality Supervision: This is your primary line of defense. A supervisor provides a space to “externalise” the trauma residue, ensuring you aren’t carrying your clients’ stories alone.
- Diverse Caseloads: Where possible, balance high-intensity trauma work with generalist cases or other professional activities like teaching or assessments.
- Strict Boundaried Practice: Create clear rituals that signal the end of the work day—a specific commute playlist, a change of clothes, or a physical “clearing” of your office space.
- Personal Therapy: Most trauma-informed therapists benefit from having their own space to process how their work intersects with their personal history.
The Path to Recovery
If you are already feeling the weight of VT, recovery is possible through Vicarious Transformation.
- Reconnect with Meaning: Remind yourself why you chose this field. Focus on the resilience of your clients, not just their pain.
- Somatic Regulation: Trauma lives in the body. Engage in physical activities that “discharge” stress such as yoga, swimming, or even simple grounding exercises.
- Restorative Self-Care: This isn’t just about bubble baths; it’s about radical self-care. It might mean taking an extended break, reducing your hours, or seeking more intensive supervision.
Final Thoughts
We cannot be “immune” to the stories we hear, but we can be resilient. Acknowledging the impact of trauma work on your own psyche isn’t a sign of weakness—it is a sign of a mature, self-aware practitioner.
Are you feeling the impact of your clinical work?
As a Board-Approved Supervisor specialising in trauma, I provide a supportive space to help you navigate these challenges and build a sustainable career.