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Vicarious Trauma on Mental Health Counselors

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Vicarious Trauma on Mental Health Counselors
Secret Scott
Walden University

Dr. Johnathan Lent

In March, 2011, those people living in Japan experienced the devastation and impact of an earthquake and tsunami which ended in the result of causing nearly 20, 000 deaths. The tragedy caused those individuals whom survived to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression amongst the Japanese. Not only did the Japanese population suffer but the effects and devastation was felt in other environments as well, such as Hawaii. Hawaii underwent a substantial amount of collateral damage which caused anxiety to run rampant amongst Hawaii’s population. This sort of traumatic situation and disaster would truly be the cause of mental disorders such as anxiety, PTSD and depression (Satcher, Friel, & Bell, 2007).
Mental health counselors could experience indirect trauma from their clients they are treating that has experienced traumatic affects, this is known as vicarious trauma (Baird & Kracen, 2006; Harrison & Westwood, 2009). Vicarious trauma can be experienced though direct or indirect acquaintance from the traumatic occurrence. VT happens to only those counselors working specifically with trauma victims and survivors (McCann & Pearlman, 1990). VT has a unique progression. Vicarious trauma happens progressively (McCann & Pearlman, 1992; Pearlman & Saakvitne, 1995a). This theory suggests those suffering from VT build their realism through the growth of reasonable intuitions which enables their understanding of life situations in general (Saakvitne & Pearlman, 1996).
Counselors providing therapy to traumatized clients can more than likely suffer from vicarious traumatization and this is a noteworthy concern. Counselor need to be aware of the potential to change their own beliefs as it pertains to themselves and others. Being aware

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