Vicarious Posttraumatic Growth in Psychotherapy

Although the existing literature on the effects of trauma work includes anecdotal and tangential reports that clinicians sometimes perceive important work-related benefits or rewards, this investigation is the first to examine in-depth the positive sequelae of working with trauma survivors.

The results of this exploratory study include unusually detailed descriptions of the ways in which clinicians’ lives have been enriched by trauma work. Many therapists reported that their work with trauma survivors had changed their lives in profound and positive ways, a finding that suggests that the potential benefits of trauma work—vicarious posttraumatic growth, if you will—may be significantly more powerful and far-reaching than the existing literature’s scant focus on potential benefits would suggest.

Study Abstract:

Previous investigations of the impact of trauma-related psychotherapy on clinicians have emphasized the hazardous nature of such work. The present study is the first exploration of clinicians’ perceptions of trauma work to investigate in depth the positive consequences of working with trauma survivors. A sample of 21 psychotherapists participated in a naturalistic interview exploring the impact of trauma work with a particular focus on (a) changes in memory systems and schemas about self and the world (the hallmarks of vicarious traumatization) and (b) perceived psychological growth. In addition to reporting several negative consequences, all of the clinicians in this sample described positive outcomes. These descriptions of positive sequelae are strikingly similar to reports of growth following directly experienced trauma and suggest that the potential benefits of working with trauma survivors may be significantly more powerful and far-reaching than the existing literature’s scant focus on positive sequelae would indicate.

Read the full study here