Vicarious Trauma Essay

Title: The Silent Scream: An exploration of the impact of Vicarious Trauma on therapists who work with survivors of Trauma.
“He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you” (Friedrich Nietzsche, 1886)
“Trauma material is often difficult to hear and both parties will be affected by it. Client’s know this, but therapists often feel they must deny it” (Pearlmann & Saaktvine, 1995)
1.1 Description of the Project
The purpose of this study was to undertake an investigation into the impact of the condition known as Vicarious Trauma on psychotherapists who work with survivors of trauma. Based on several discussions with close peers and colleagues it may be argued that there is a lack of knowledge about Vicarious Trauma within the psychotherapy field in Ireland. The participants involved in this study were asked to give their general knowledge of Vicarious Trauma and possible precautions they may take to avoid it. The participants were also asked to provide information regarding their current job satisfactions and the current risk of the conditions outlined.
1.2 Introduction
Trauma is personal. It does not disappear if it is not validated. When it is ignored or

Barr (2006) argues that psychological wounds may inspire individuals to pursue a career as a psychotherapist. Jung was of the opinion that if the therapist had been ‘Wounded’ in some way that this could be of significant benefit to the therapeutic relationship. Jung stated that “A good half of every treatment that probes at all deeply consists in the doctor’s examining himself… it is his own hurt that gives a measure of his power to heal” (Jung, as cited in Stevens,