Vicarious Trauma(Burn Out)

& Boundary Setting

Sarah Rotsinger-Stemen, Psy. M.Tanya Russell Ph.D.

USF CAPS

Objective1. Managing difficult, traumatic, or

troubling information you may hear from students

2. Identifying, setting, and maintaining appropriate boundaries

3. Recognizing the importance of self-care in your role as tutors

Trauma

Trauma is any event which can make one feel unsafe in the world,

and which affects the mind and nervous system thus creating

psychological harm.

What is Traumatic Stress?

Traumatic stress is the RESPONSE to an event or situation, NOT the traumatic event itselfEvents that may trigger a traumatic response:• Sexual or physical assault/abuse• Car accidents• Serious illness or death of a family member• War• Target of racism, sexism, classism, …

Emotional and Psychological Reactions to Trauma

• Fear, Shock, Disbelief and Disorientation• Intrusive memories • Anger/Aggression• Withdrawal • Helplessness• Shame • Guilt

Vicarious TraumaTraumatic stress experienced indirectly (i.e. hearing stories, responding after a traumatic event, seeing live footage of a traumatic event, etc.)

Vicarious TraumaThose most closely exposed to the traumatic event (i.e. EMTs, firefighters, etc) are more susceptible to experiencing secondary traumatic stress than those less exposed (i.e. viewing on TV, hearing a personal story)

Vicarious Trauma• Think about a time (preferably recent

time) when someone personally told you about a traumatic event he/she experienced, or

• Think about a time when you heard about a traumatic event or horrific ordeal thru the media

HOW DID THIS IMPACT OR EFFECT YOU?

Secondary Traumatic Stress• Fatigue, low energy• Less efficient; taking longer to complete the same

task• Difficulty making decisions, • Problems focusing/concentrating• Problems sleeping, difficulty relaxing• "Tuning out" while listening to traumatic stories• Less creative, loss of problem-solving skills• Sad, depressed, withdrawn• Loss of sense of humor or playfulness, less capacity

to feel joy

Indications of

Secondary Traumatic Stress• Apathetic, indifferent, emotional numbness• More irritable, intolerant, angry• Cynical; less compassionate, disillusioned, less trust

in humanity• Feeling helplessness, hopelessness• Guilt for having an "easier" life than others, denying

or downplaying your own pain and/or difficulties• Physical complaints: headaches, abdominal

discomfort, diarrhea, joint pain, muscle aches or tension, frequent illness

Indications of

Vicarious Trauma• Often a slow, cumulative process that occurs over

the course of helping those who have suffered tragedy, loss, and pain.

• Helping professionals may not realize that they are suffering from secondary or vicarious trauma until they feel "burned out"

• A person’s past, including previous exposure to traumatic incidents, coping styles, attitudes, beliefs, and support system also influence the degree to which one might experience vicarious trauma.

Coping• Debrief after tutoring/hearing a traumatic story• Mutually support each other• Seek support from CAPS• Seek support and consultation through CAPS

after hours services • Maintain balance in your life – schedule time to

enjoy pleasurable activities• Maintain appropriate boundaries with students

Know Your Limits!

Signs that you’ve exceeded your limits or the student needs more help than you’re able or willing to give:• Feeling responsible for the student• Feeling pressure to solve his/her problems• Feeling over-extended in helping/tutoring the

student• Feeling stressed out about the student’s behavior• Feeling the problem/story you heard is more than

you can handle

Self-Care

Next Steps

What are you like when you are “burned out?” • Turn to the person next to you and discuss:–How you physically and mentally react to

stress (i.e. ruminate, irritable/bitchy, withdrawn depressed/sad, drink/smoke weed, panic/anxious, nightmares, numb, etc.)– Identify 2 actions you could take to prevent

this

Questions?