Title: What is Vicarious Trauma? | What is Vicarious Trauma? | OVC
Headings: What is Vicarious Trauma?
What is Vicarious Trauma?
What Happens to Those Exposed to Vicarious Trauma?
Who Is at Risk of Being Affected by Vicarious Trauma?
What Are Some Common Negative Reactions to Vicarious Trauma?
Suggestions for Coworkers
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For More Information About Vicarious Trauma
Education and Awareness
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Prevalence and Risk Factors
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Content: and can vary from individual to individual, particularly with prolonged exposure. The chart below illustrates the VTT Model. Vicarious traumatization is a negative reaction to trauma exposure and includes a range of psychosocial symptoms. ( In the VTT, the term “vicarious traumatization” is used broadly to include other related terms such as secondary traumatic stress (STS), compassion fatigue (CF), and critical incident stress (CIS). These terms, often used interchangeably, have distinct and overlapping definitions, as illustrated in the Glossary of Terms .) A neutral reaction signifies the ways that an individual's resilience, experiences, support, and coping strategies manage the traumatic material, not that it has no effect. Vicarious resilience and vicarious transformation are newer concepts reflecting the positive effects of this work. For instance, individuals may draw inspiration from a victim’s resilience that strengthens their own mental and emotional fortitude. Just as victims can be transformed in positive ways by their trauma, so can victim service providers and first responders. Compassion satisfaction reflects the sense of meaning that is gained from working in the fields of victim services and first responders.