Secondary Trauma and the Management of Sex Offenders

Section 4:Addressing Secondary Trauma

Section 4 2

“Trauma Resilient” Employees

Trauma resilient employees are able to: Recognize when they might be

experiencing secondary trauma; and Take the steps necessary to protect

themselves from—or overcome—that trauma.

Section 4 3

Characteristics of Trauma Resilient Employees

In a 2005 study, supervision officers identified the following characteristics as crucial to protecting themselves from secondary trauma and performing well on the job. Flexibility Technical

competence Self-confidence Empathy

Patience Integrity Honesty Humor

(White, Gasperin, Nystrom, Ambrose& Esarey, 2005)

Section 4 4

Professional Self-Care Strategies

In this 2005 survey, respondents were asked to rate items in a list of common professional self-care strategies based on each strategy’s degree of importance in helping to maintain the individual’s physical and mental health and high job performance.

The rating options were 1 (not important), 2 (important), or 3 (very important).

Section 4 5

Professional Self-Care Strategies (Continued)

Stress Reducing Activity2.9 Cultivating a sense of humor2.9 Having healthy intimate and family relationships2.7 Having one or more healthy relationships at

work in which I can express emotions related to my work experience

2.7 Having enjoyable hobbies or leisure activities2.6 Maintaining relationships with professional

peers who work outside the criminal justice system2.6 Having one or more close friendships away from

work in which I can express my emotions related to my work experience

2.6 Avoiding or self-monitoring potentially harmful approaches to stress management (e.g.,

smoking, drinking, risk-taking, cynicism, and negativity)

Avg. Rating

Section 4 6

Professional Self-Care Strategies (Continued)

Stress Reducing Activity2.5 Physical self-care (e.g., healthy diet, regular

physical checkups, etc.)2.5 Attending professional training2.4 Cultivating relationships with other supervision

officers who have a positive attitude2.4 Having alone-time rituals that keep me focused

(e.g., meditation, prayer, self-reflection, etc.)2.4 Getting regular exercise2.1 Maintaining relationships with supervision

officers who work in other offices1.9 Daily goal-setting and/or self-evaluation at end

of the day

Avg. Rating

Section 4 7

Professional Self-Care Strategies (Continued)

Stress Reducing Activity1.9 Having one or more professional mentors1.9 Doing volunteer work unrelated to my job1.7 Using particular stress management

techniques (e.g., biofeedback, meditation, progressive relaxation, etc.)

Avg. Rating

Section 4 8

Other Self-Care Ideas Other studies of supervision officers

identified the following strategies as helpful in coping with work stress. Use sick leave as “mental health days” Exercise regularly Discuss cases with coworkers Seek support through religion/spirituality Vent to others Talking to a family member Seek out activities that reaffirm the goodness in

the world Develop a hobby Seek therapy if necessary

(National Institute of Justice, 2005; Wasco & Campbell, 2002)

Section 4 9

Other Self-Care Ideas (Continued)

Be creative Get away Get outside Enjoy other

environments Appreciate the

weather

Have fun Socialize Have more fun Read Enjoy children Have even more

fun Laugh often

(Pullen & Pullen, 1996)

Other ideas…

Section 4 10

Compartmentalization

Compartmentalization involves temporarily suspending disbelief and judgment to some degree in order to allow oneself to function effectively as a supervision officer.

(CSOM, 2002)

Section 4 11

Compartmentalization (Continued)

Suspending judgment of the person does not mean losing sight of the fact that the person’s behavior is not acceptable, is illegal, and is harmful to victims.

Section 4 12

Setting and Maintaining Boundaries

Sex offenders may attempt to create inappropriate relationships with those who work with them.

Strategies to combat these attempts include: Not keeping personal items in your office; Not divulging information about yourself or your family

in the context of a meeting with an offender; Declining gifts and correspondence, emphasizing that

they are inappropriate; Responding to attempts at manipulation or deceit; and Arranging your office to create a neutral space between

your desk and the chair in which offenders sit during office visits.

Section 4 13

Setting and Maintaining Boundaries (continued)

It is important to maintain clear boundaries between your personal and professional lives. Ways to do this might include: Don’t take on more than you can realistically do! Work only your assigned hours. Limit calls and visits from people that aren’t

totally necessary. When you go home at the end of a hard day, try

your best to leave your work at work.

Section 4 14

“Trauma Resilient” Agencies

Agency leaders and policymakers should work to create an environment that is as supportive as possible and take proactive steps to preserve the emotional and psychological welfare of front line professionals.

Section 4 15

How Agencies Can Be Trauma Resilient

Provide specialized sex offender training that contains a component on secondary trauma

Establish clear boundaries Create a safe forum for “venting” Make clear that an offender’s failure

does not reflect an employee’s failure

Section 4 16

How Agencies Can Be Trauma Resilient (Continued)

Promote inter- and cross-agency collaboration

Encourage flexible office policies Promote employee wellness within

the agency