About this resource
Hearing about trauma can affect workers over time. This reflection helps workers consider their exposure, notice possible signs of vicarious trauma, identify protective factors and supports, and plan what to bring to supervision, recognising organisations share responsibility.
Purpose
To recognise and respond early to the impact of trauma exposure at work.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Community services and case workers. Also relevant for social workers, youth workers, allied health and multidisciplinary teams.
Client or participant group: Community services workers.
Practice setting: Supervision and professional development.
Suggested uses
- Supervision
- Professional development
- Team wellbeing
- After high-exposure periods
Instructions for practitioners
- Reflect privately and honestly.
- Discuss in supervision.
- Use employee assistance if needed.
- Raise organisational issues such as caseload and debriefing.
Accessibility considerations
Editable HTML source available for adaptation.
Scope and limitations
A reflection tool. It is not a clinical assessment and does not replace employee assistance or health care.
Higher-risk topic: use only within your training, supervision and organisational procedures.
Research basis
Repeated exposure to others' trauma can affect practitioners, and organisational support and reflective practice help. Burnout reflects mismatches between people and their work demands, and is addressed through both organisational and individual strategies.
- Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311
- Pearlman, L. A., & Saakvitne, K. W. (1995). Trauma and the therapist: Countertransference and vicarious traumatization in psychotherapy with incest survivors. W. W. Norton.
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced.
