VICARIOUS TRAUMATIZATION - AN EMPIRICAL-STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA WORK ON TRAUMA THERAPISTS

This study examined vicarious traumatization (i.e., the deleterious effects of trauma therapy on the therapist) in 188 self-identified trauma therapists. Participants completed questionnaires about their exposure to survivor clients' trauma material as well as their own psychological well-being. Those neu est to the work were experiencing the most psychological difficulties (as measured by the TSI Belief Scale; L. A. Pearlman, in press-a) and Symptom Checklist-90-Revised ( L. Derogatis, 1977) symptoms. Trauma therapists with a personal trauma history showed more negative effects from the work than those without a personal history. Trauma work appeared to affect those without a personal trauma history in the area of other-esteem. The study indicates the need for more training in trauma therapy and more supervision and support for both newer and survivor trauma therapists.