Title: What is Vicarious Trauma? - Jefferson Center - Mental Health and Substance Use Services
Headings: What is Vicarious Trauma?
What is Vicarious Trauma?
What is Trauma?
What is Vicarious Trauma?
Who Experiences Vicarious Trauma?
Common Reactions to Vicarious Trauma:
How to Address Vicarious Trauma:

Content: Vicarious trauma, like experiencing trauma directly, can deeply impact the way you see the world and your deepest sense of meaning and hope. – Headington Institute
What is Trauma? Trauma is an experience where death or serious injury is a very real threat. This can include your own direct experiences, witnessed events, or situations faced by someone you care about. What is Vicarious Trauma? Vicarious Trauma is an ongoing process of change over time that results from witnessing or hearing about other people’s pain and suffering. It may feel overwhelming to hear about an intense trauma so personal reactions are delayed as you focus on the task at hand. Listening to traumatic material can also trigger memories of your own previous traumas. Vicarious trauma is similar to direct trauma. It carries many of the same symptoms and can be treated in many of the same ways.