NCJ Number
199617
Journal
Journal of Traumatic Stress Volume: 16 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2003 Pages: 167-174
Date Published
April 2003
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This paper focuses on the consequences for providers of working with survivors of criminal victimization.
Abstract
The debilitating mental health effects that may be experienced by clinicians who treat the trauma of crime victims has been referred to as secondary traumatic stress (STS). The research and practice literature reflects the use of various terms that are or are nearly synonymous with STS. These include burnout, compassion fatigue, vicarious traumatization (VT), and traumatic countertransference. "Burnout" may be manifested in the emotional responses of depression, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion; the physiological responses of headaches and hypertension; and the behavioral responses of insomnia, increased addiction or dependencies, interpersonal difficulties, and general disillusionment. "Compassion fatigue" parallels the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), except the traumatic event is the client's traumatic experience that has been shared in the process of therapy or interaction with the survivor. Vicarious traumatization occurs as the clinician's exposure to the client's trauma begins to affect the clinician's worldview, emotional and psychological needs, the belief system, and cognitions. "Traumatic countertransference" occurs as the clinician has a spontaneous or evoked response to information provided by the client, as well as the client's behaviors and emotions. Countertransference reactions inhibit the clinician from correctly diagnosing and treating the effects of trauma. Clinicians who work with survivors of criminal victimization must develop and use effective coping mechanisms and support systems in order to ameliorate the effects of exposure to the traumatic material of survivors and STS. Professionals who work with crime victims must receive increased training, education, consultation, and supervision related to trauma and STS. Research and practice implications of STS are discussed. 58 references