Vicarious Trauma Case Study

As a standard of the American Counseling Association, providers ethically should maintain a healthy well-being (Warren et al., 2010). Learning and practicing how to stay healthy is the counselor’s responsibility to uphold. Vicarious trauma occurs within a mental health professional after emotionally involving himself/herself in the client’s trauma as a response to personal traumatic history, current stressors, or trauma within his/her support system (Dass-Brailsford, 2007, p. 293). Compassion fatigue is similar to vicarious trauma but occurs at the expense of listening to a client’s trauma and negative reactions form as if the counselor was directly experiencing the event (Dass-Brailsford, 2007, p. 294-295). Compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma are two aspects occurring between a counselor’s external view of the world and a client’s traumatic experience. Thus, preventing and addressing both concepts show the power of trauma has on an individual …show more content…
Knowing I am responsible for practicing healthy self-care. Through the designing and implementing of a self-care plan in the event of a crisis, I have to evaluate current coping strategies currently in place and future approaches to implement. Leaving my internship site each day involves me decompressing with a two minute guided meditation session to ensure I do not bring my client’s issues home. While I have not had experience in heavy trauma or crisis counseling, practicing meditation daily increases my emotional and physical well-being. Furthermore, I enjoy driving home to see my niece and nephew as they provide me comfort. My family serves as a large social support in my academics and future professional career. Without this support, I need to spend more time with friends for balance. Additionally, maintaining equilibrium amongst my professional and personal life is key in implementing this self-care