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Counselors’ Corner—Vicarious Trauma Trauma and Fall 2019 Secondary Traumatic Stress: A Competency-Based
T events considered negative and which are overwhelming to to an an an individual’s ability to to adequately utilize coping skills and resources
as as as well as as as cope in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a healthy way to a a a a a a a a a a a a a stressor
(Van der Kolk 1996) Childhood sexual sexual assault assault physical or or sexual sexual assault assault natural disasters domestic violence violence and and school and and work-related violence violence have been among the the most prevalent traumas reported in in the the eld of mental health (James & Gilliland 2001) Not surprisingly one of the the the most concerning and and signi cant public health concerns in in the the the United States is the the the experience experience of of traumatic traumatic events and experiences o o o o o o o o en en en en resulting in in a a a a a a a diagnosis of of of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) PTSD PTSD is is is one of of of the main on-going negative outcomes of of surviving adverse events in in in in in life and and most o o o o o o o o o o o en en en results in in in in in both physical and and psychological consequences (Beck & & & Sloan 2012: Solomon & & & Johnson 2002 Lupien McEwen Gunnar & & & Heim 2009) Acute stress disorder disorder and complex PTSD are among the the other trauma-related disorders most seen in in in clinical settings (Kessler 2000) It is is critical that the practicing clinician in in in in in in order
to treat clients impacted by trauma trauma in in in in in in in an an an an ethical manner must undergo training in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a standardized trauma-based curriculum Current research ndings indicate only one in in in in ve North American doctoral programs in in in in in the area of psychology o o o o o o o o o o o o o er er a a a a a a a a a a trauma course or or practicum specializing in in in in working with traumatized clients (Cook et al 2017) A study by Beck and Sloan (2012) includes a a a a a a a a a a national statistic nding that about 82 2% of of people in in in in the United States are surviving a a a a a a a a a a lifetime of of collective exposure to at at at at least one traumatic event Based
on on on on on this information and and ongoing ndings on on on on trauma trauma and and its e e e e e e e e e e e ects if can be inferred that counselors in in in in in most mental health settings will work with survivors of of of trauma Given the vulnerability of of of this population of of of clients it it is is ethically imperative that counselors providing trauma counseling partake in in in in in in training which includes the foundations of knowledge on on trauma trauma and trauma-competent clinical skills (Layne et et al al 2014) Working with survivors of trauma can lead to issues issues such as as as burnout compassion fatigue and issues issues of of countertransference (Salston & Figley 2003) as as as as well as as vicarious traumatization and and secondary traumatic stress Adams and and Riggs (2008) nd nd nd nd that trauma-informed counselors experience less of of a a a a a a a a a a a chance of of experiencing vicarious traumatization dissociative symptoms and disrupted self-concept than those who are not trained in in in trauma-competent practices e e e e e e e e e e e e American Counseling Association requires counselors to receive supervision and specialized training in in in in any area of counseling that is practiced (ACA 2014) Formal trauma trauma training for counselors specializing in in in in in trauma trauma counseling counseling and those who wish to to provide trauma-speci c c c c c counseling counseling to to clients ensures
rauma stems from the experience of life Ethical Perspective
Tuesdai A Brown Chi Epsilon Chapter
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