Vicarious Trauma: The Silent Impact on Therapists

Vicarious trauma refers to the impact of repetitive encounters with indirect trauma while working as a helping professional. Most clients who attend psychotherapy will share their history of trauma that has impacted their mental health, relationships, and working lives (Sawicki, 2019).
The emotional impact of empathizing with trauma survivors increases therapists’ risk of vicarious trauma, yet it is necessary to facilitate the client’s post-traumatic growth (Rothschild, 2023).
This article is aimed at supporting all those helping professionals at risk of vicarious trauma by exploring the signs and symptoms, providing prevention strategies, and offering free science-based interventions to help you cope.
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