Victim service providers work closely with people who have gone through traumatic experiences. While they aren’t usually the direct victims, they can still experience trauma in several ways:
Direct Threats or Violence:
- Some victim service providers work in environments where they may face threats from abusers or perpetrators, especially in domestic violence shelters or during court hearings. This can lead to feelings of fear or anxiety about their own safety.
Burnout from Overwork:
- Many victim service providers face high caseloads, long hours, and emotional exhaustion. Constantly dealing with others’ trauma, especially without adequate self-care, can lead to burnout, which is a form of emotional and physical collapse.
Witnessing a Client’s Struggles:
- Providers who work with victims of severe trauma, such as sexual assault, often witness their clients’ ongoing pain and hardship. Seeing someone struggle with their trauma, even after offering support, can leave providers feeling frustrated, helpless, or distressed.
Types of Vicarious Trauma Experienced by Victim Service Providers
Types of Vicarious Trauma Experienced by Victim Service Providers
One of the most important aspects of the collaboration that arise from SARTs is the trust that each team member gains in the methods and goals of all participants in the coordinated response and the knowledge that each participant is acting in support of a victim-centered approach. The duties of a SART are outlined in
Listening to Graphic Accounts of Trauma:
- Victim service providers often hear detailed and painful stories of abuse, violence, or trauma from their clients. Repeatedly hearing these stories can lead to vicarious trauma, where the provider begins to experience emotional distress, anxiety, or even symptoms of PTSD.
Empathizing Deeply with Clients:
- Providers often form close, empathetic relationships with their clients. While this helps build trust, it also means they may feel the emotional weight of their clients’ suffering. This can lead to emotional exhaustion and a sense of hopelessness, especially when progress is slow.
Feeling Responsible for Clients’ Outcomes:
- Providers might feel personally responsible for the recovery or well-being of their clients. If a client continues to struggle or experiences more trauma, the provider may feel guilt or self-doubt, which contributes to vicarious trauma.
Cumulative Stress from Multiple Cases:
- Working with multiple clients who have each gone through trauma can add up over time. This cumulative stress can wear down providers emotionally and mentally, making it harder to separate their personal lives from their work.
Secondary Trauma from Graphic Evidence:
- In some cases, victim service providers may be exposed to crime scene photos, medical reports, or legal documents that detail the traumatic experiences of their clients. This repeated exposure to disturbing materials can cause secondary trauma.
References
01
Newell, J. M., & MacNeil, G. A. (2010). Professional Burnout, Vicarious Trauma, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Compassion Fatigue: A Review of Theoretical Terms, Risk Factors, and Preventive Methods for Clinicians and Researchers. Best Practices in Mental Health, 6(2), 57-68.
02
Baird, K., & Kracen, A. C. (2006). Vicarious Traumatization and Secondary Traumatic Stress: A Research Synthesis. Counseling Psychology Quarterly, 19(2), 181-188.
03
Figley, C. R. (1995). Compassion Fatigue: Coping with Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder in Those Who Treat the Traumatized. Brunner/Mazel.
04
Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). (2013). Vicarious Trauma Toolkit. Retrieved from https://ovc.ojp.gov.
