Vicarious Trauma is a psychological/physiological change in a worker or a family member as a result of working empathically with a client’s or family member’s trauma. Some examples of worker’s who experience trauma include hospital staff, paramedics, lawyers working in traumatic settings and therapists of all kinds.
It is very important for worker’s in traumatic fields to practice self-care. Many organisations help with caring for workers through counselling and understanding the needs for breaks and support including structured and unstructured peer support and supervision. Some examples of family members who experience vicarious trauma include those who empathically relate to family suffering from addiction, violence, children’s suffering, chronic illness and pain.
Support for family is less structured and must be sought by the individual of support organisations and by other practices.
Vicarious Trauma & Art Therapy
Art therapy is a particularly effective means to address vicarious trauma. Many workers do not wish to discuss their experiences, many are only vaguely aware of these changes and not able to articulate them.
One special benefit of art therapy is that it is a means of expressing and understanding feelings that are too difficult to discuss. Another special benefit is that the process allows the individual to recognise issues and possibilities for resolution and protection.