Abstract
Our study dealt with the positive and negative implications of working with victims of family violence on therapists in terms of secondary traumatization, vicarious traumatization, and growth. In addition, we examined positive and negative changes that the therapists experienced in themselves, their lives, and their families as a result of their work. The research population consisted of 143 social workers employed in the field of family violence, and 71 social workers who were not employed in that field. Comparisons between the two groups were conducted for all of the research variables. The two groups did not differ significantly in levels of secondary traumatization. However, significant differences were found in levels of growth, as well as in levels of positive and negative changes that the participants experienced in themselves, their lives, and their families.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams, K. B., Matto, H., & Harrington, D. (2001). The traumatic stress institute belief scale as a measure of vicarious trauma in a national sample of clinical social worker. Families in Society, 82, 363–371.
Arnold, D., Calhoun, L. G., Tedeschi, R., & Cann, A. (2005). Vicarious posttraumatic growth in psychotherapy. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 45(2), 239–263. doi:10.1177/0022167805274729.
Barid, S., & Jenkis, S. R. (2003). Vicarious traumatization, secondary traumatic stress and burnout in sexual assault and domestic violence agency staff. Violence and Victims, 18, 71–86. doi:10.1891/vivi.2003.18.1.71.
Bell, H. (2003). Strengths and secondary trauma in family violence work. Social Work, 48, 513–522.
Bride, B. E. (2007). Prevalence of secondary traumatic stress among social worker. Social Work, 52, 63–70.
Bride, B. E., Robinson, M. M., Yegidis, B., & Figley, C. R. (2003). Development and validation of the secondary traumatic stress scale. Research on Social Work Practice, 13, 1–16.
Calhoun, L. G., & Tedeschi, R. G. (1998). Beyond recovery from trauma: implications for clinical practice and research. The Journal of Social Issues, 54, 357–371. doi:10.1111/0022-4537.701998070.
Calhoun, L. G., & Tedeschi, R. G. (2006). The foundations of posttraumatic growth: An expanded framework. In L. G. Calhoun & R. G. Tedeschi (Eds.), Handbook of posttraumatic growth: Research and practice (pp. 1–23). New Jersey: LEA.
Calhoun, L. G., Cann, A., Tedeschi, R. G., & McMillan, J. (2000). A correlational test of the relationship between posttraumatic growth, religion, and cognitive processing. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 13(3), 521–527.
Dutton, M. A. (1992). Empowering and healing the battered woman: A model for assessment and intervention. New York: Springer.
Dutton, M. A., & Rubinstein, F. L. (1995). Working with people with PTSD: Research implications. In C. R. Figley (Ed.), Compassion fatigue: Coping with secondary traumatic stress disorder in those who treat the traumatized (pp. 82–100). New York: Bruner/Mazel.
Figley, C. R. (1995). Compassion fatigue as a secondary traumatic stress disorder: An oerview. In C. R. Figley (Ed.), Compassion fatigue: Coping with secondary traumatic stress disorder in those who treat the traumatized (pp. 1–20). New York: Brunner Mazel.
Herman, J. L. (1995). Trauma and recovery. Tel Aviv: Am Oved.
Iliffe, G., & Steed, L. G. (2000). Exploring the counselor’s experience of work with perpetrators and survivors of domestic violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 15, 393–412. doi:10.1177/088626000015004004.
McCann, L., & Pearlman, L. A. (1990). Vicarious traumatization: A framework for understanding the psychological effects of working with victims. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 3, 131–149. doi:10.1007/BF00975140.
Miller, L., Reesor, K., McCarrey, M., & Leikin, L. (1995). Nursing burnout. Employee Assistance Quarterly, 10, 29–52.
Pearlman, L. A. (1999). Self care for trauma therapist: Ameliorating vicarious traumatization. In B. Stamm (Ed.), Secondary traumatic stress: Self care issues for clinicians, researchers and educators (pp. 51–64). Baltimore, MD, US: The Sidran.
Pearlman, L. A., & Saakvitne, K. W. (1995). Trauma and the therapist: Counter transference and vicarious traumatization in psychotherapy with incest survivor. London: W. W. Norton.
Sabin-Farrell, R., & Trupin, G. (2003). Vicarious traumatization: Implications for the mental health workers? Clinical Psychology Review, 23, 449–480. doi:10.1016/S0272-7358(03)00030-8.
Schauben, L. J., & Frazier, P. A. (1995). Vicarious trauma: the effects on female counselors of working with sexual violence survivor. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 19, 49–64. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.1995.tb00278.x.
Sexton, L. (1999). Vicarious traumatization of counselors and effects on their workplaces. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 27, 393–403.
Steed, L. G., & Downing, R. (1998). A phenomenological study of vicarious traumatization among psychologists and professional counselors working in the field of sexual abuse/ assault. The Australasian Journal of Disaster and Trauma Studies, 2 (2), no pagination specified.
Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (1996). The posttraumatic growth inventory: measuring the positive legacy of trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 9(3), 455–472. doi:10.1002/jts.2490090305.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Supported by the Schnitzer Foundation for Research on the Israeli Economy and Society.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ben-Porat, A., Itzhaky, H. Implications of Treating Family Violence for the Therapist: Secondary Traumatization, Vicarious Traumatization, and Growth. J Fam Viol 24, 507–515 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-009-9249-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-009-9249-0