March 12, 2014 Terri Poore National Sexual Assault Coalition Resource Sharing Project...
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Transcript of March 12, 2014 Terri Poore National Sexual Assault Coalition Resource Sharing Project...
STANDING STRONG TOGETHER
ADDRESSING VICARIOUS TRAUMA FOR RURAL
ADVOCATES
March 12, 2014Terri Poore
National Sexual Assault Coalition Resource Sharing Project
“Taking care of ourselves while
taking care of others allows us to
contribute to our society with such
impact that we will leave a legacy
informed by our deepest wisdom and
greatest gifts instead of burdened with our struggles
and despairs.”
(van Dernoot Lipsky, 2009)
Overview
Defining vicarious trauma and how it differs from burnout.
Understanding the personal impact of vicarious trauma and strategies for personal resiliency especially in a rural context.
Identifying organizational solutions for mitigating vicarious trauma including rural contexts.
Why is it important to talk about vicarious trauma?
“As professionals dedicated to the fair and compassionate treatment of victims in
society, we have been strong in vocalizing concerns that those who are abused and
battered not be blamed for their victimization and their subsequent traumatic response.
Yet when addressing the distress of colleagues, we have focused on the use of individual coping strategies, implying that
those who feel traumatized may not be balancing life and work adequately and may not be making effective use of leisure, self-
care, or supervision.”
(Bober and Regehr, 2005)
What is vicarious trauma?
And how does it relate to burnout?
Burnout
Describes a severe state of exhaustion or lack of energy, that is usually brought on by unreasonable work expectations or environmental work related stress.
Perceived demands outweighing perceived resources
Vicarious Trauma
The Transformation of the helper’s inner experience as a result of empathic
engagement with survivors and their traumatic experiences.
VT has similarities to PTSD
Intrusive experiences Avoidance or numbing of the pain Experiences of “arousal”
Vicarious Trauma
Creates a permanent, subtle or marked change in the personal, political, spiritual, and professional outlook of the advocate
Affects the advocate’s view of the world and their relationships and connections to family, friends, and community
(Richardson, 2001)
Silencing Response
Diminished capacity to listen Subtle cues to clients to void traumatic
material Loss of confidence
Vicarious Trauma
Both an individual
and organizational
challenge
What are the factors that contribute to vicarious trauma?
The Nature of the Work We Do 24-hour crisis
intervention and response
Multiple roles and responsibilities
Little opportunity to know in the long term whether we made a difference
Listening to Experiences of Trauma
Survivors describe their abuse, pain, and humiliation
Going from session to session
Personal Circumstances
Stress or crisis in our personal life
Our own trauma history
Struggles with Boundaries
Lack of clarity about the advocate’s role
Rescuing Personal
identification with the survivor
Caretaking Expectations
The political, social, and cultural context of anti-sexual violence work.
Our Work Environment
Rural Aspects of VT
Fewer people to share the work Thin wall between personal and professional life Values
Vicarious Trauma and the Rural Latina Advocate
Assessment Tools
Compassion Fatigue/Satisfaction Self-Test for Helpers
What are some of the ways you see
yourself and/or your co-workers being
impacted by vicarious trauma?
Breathing Together
Areas of Personal Impact
Heart & Mind
Body
Spirit
Professional
Relationships
How can I build my personal resiliency?
Resiliency Strategies
Address all 5 areas of personal impact Reframing Activism Make time for fun Stand strong together Establish boundaries Take care of yourself
Stretching Together
How would you like your organization to respond to vicarious
trauma?
What are some organizational strategies?
Value Staff as Whole People Recognize the deep impact of working
with trauma Show concern – through words and action
– for the general well being of staff not just the quality of their work
Support staff in outside participation in volunteer activities and social justice work
Leadership
Set a good example by the way you take care of yourself
Create an open door environment for communication
Support Individual Wellness
Provide access to medical and mental health services
Offer adequate salaries and time off for all staff
Incorporate flexible work schedules Create a safe, comfortable, and private
work environment
Training
Provide sufficient orientation and professional training for staff to feel comfortable and supported in their jobs
Provide continuing education as a way to increase staff knowledge and empowerment
Supervision
Diversify advocate’s workload Diversify supervision style; at times,
some workers may need extra supervisory support or extra down time
Provide opportunities for group support through peer supervision and staff meetings
Stand Together
Encourage connections, morale and relationships through: working in teams, social activities, and peer support networks
Celebrate successes together
Let’s discuss dynamics for rural organizations
related to vicarious trauma.
Creating an Agency Plan
Thank you!
ReferencesBell, H., Kulkarni, S., & Dalton, L. (2003). Organizational prevention of vicarious trauma. Families in Society, 84 (4), 463-470.
Bober, T., & Regehr, C. (2006). Strategies for reducing secondary or vicarious trauma: Do they work? Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention, 6 (1), 1 – 9.
Pearlman, L.A. & McKay, L. (2008). Understanding and Addressing Vicarious Trauma . Headington Institute.
Richardson, J. I. (2001). Guidebook on vicarious trauma: Recommended solutions for anti‐violence workers.
Van Dernoot Lipsky, L. (2007). Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others. Wasco, S., Campbell, R., and Clark, M. (2002). A multiple case study of rape victim advocates’ self-care routines: The influence of organizational context. American Journal of Community Psychology, 30(5), 731-760.