STANDING STRONG TOGETHER

ADDRESSING VICARIOUS TRAUMA FOR RURAL

ADVOCATES

March 12, 2014Terri Poore

National Sexual Assault Coalition Resource Sharing Project

sasp@iowacasa.org

“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.