Who is Affected by Vicarious Trauma?
Vicarious Trauma refers to the cumulative effect of trauma that someone’s story has on the helping listener. It is defined as indirect exposure to trauma through a first hand account or narrative of a traumatic event. It is underreported and widespread among the helping professions including:
- Lawyers
- Doctors
- Mental Health Professionals
- Teachers
- Rescue Workers
- Judges
- Job Placement Professionals
- Police Officers
- Middle Management
- Nurses
- Financial Advisors
- Journalists
- Hospice Workers
- Commissioners
- Therapists
- Parole Officers
- Clergy
- Occupational Therapists
- Paralegals
- Bankers
- Volunteers
- Physical Therapists
- Insurance Claim Agents
- Social Workers
- Human Resource Professionals
- Friends
- Commissioners
- Therapists
- Custody evaluators
- CPS workers
- Public service workers
- and the list goes on...