Being empathetically engaged with clients who've experienced traumatic events brings the risk of vicarious traumatization -- but a therapist can take steps to manage that risk and stay focused on the larger goal of helping people heal, said Kit O'Neill, PhD, at a symposium on self-care for psychologists on Sunday at Convention.
Therapists helping people deal with horrible events might experience similiar symptoms, such as intrusive thoughts and nightmares, and may find themselves avoiding taking on new clients dealing with trauma, or skirting around traumatic issues instead of dealing with them directly during a session. To reduce those effects, therapists can practice relaxation techniques to calm the "fight or flight" reflex, get physical exercise, and stay connected with family, friends and colleagues, O'Neill said.
A professor at North Dakota State University, O'Neill helps oversee APA's Disaster Response Network, serves as an instructor in disaster mental health with the American Red Cross and has responded to disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.
Besides addressing the physical effects of vicarious traumatization, psychologists need to also stay focused on the big picture of why they got involved in psychology in the first place, and remember that taking care of yourself will help you take care of others.