Examples Of Vicarious Trauma

Vicarious trauma is when a person, who has not experienced a traumatic event himself or herself, begins to display symptoms of trauma and crisis because of hearing about or witnessing the traumatic events victims of crisis. Vicarious trauma usually unfolds over time or dependent upon the intensity of the crisis experience. Because vicarious trauma can happen to individuals who are trying to care for victims of crisis, it is important that those who have experience crisis is given a safe, yet “initial” place to share what they went through. The principle of vicarious traumatization is that victims of crisis be placed in groups of other people who have experienced very similar events that they were traumatized by. The purpose of this principal
is to help avoid any unnecessary vicarious trauma happening to those trying to aid people who have just has a crisis experience.

In crisis response, response teams are immersed in the middle of traumatic situations in an effect to aid people who have been impacted by the event. It is important the response teams follow the principle of vicarious traumatization in providing group “debriefing” for victim of crisis so it limits an unnecessary or additional trauma from affecting others. Following this principle is also critical for the response teams themselves because they will need to “safe place” to debrief what they are seeing, feeling, and are impacted by. Response team must ensure that they not only engage in self-care but they are also supporting one another and allowing each other to discuss their experiences.