Title: The Connection Between Social Work and Secondary Trauma
Headings: The Connection Between Social Work and Secondary Trauma
The Connection Between Social Work and Secondary Trauma
Vicarious vs. Secondary Trauma in Social Work: What’s the Difference?
Examples of Vicarious and Secondary Trauma in Social Work
When Social Workers Experience Trauma
Signs of Secondary and Vicarious Trauma in Social Work
How to Manage, Treat, and Prevent Vicarious and Secondary Trauma
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Last Update: 02-12-2020

Content: A client or a client’s close family member dies or suffers a serious injury. A social worker witnesses abuse in the context of social work, such as when a parent verbally abuses a child in family therapy. Vicarious trauma is a longer-term reaction to the accumulation of exposure to traumatic events. It happens when a person faces continuous exposure to trauma. Some examples might include: A social worker in a community health clinic continually watches clients die of HIV/AIDS. A rape crisis counselor sees numerous rape survivors dismissed, disbelieved, or blamed for their abuse. A social worker at a domestic violence shelter routinely works with traumatized children. When Social Workers Experience Trauma
Social workers are not immune to experiencing trauma of their own. When a social worker has a history of personal trauma, the trauma they experience at work may trigger this trauma, intensifying symptoms.