This page is an excerpt from:

Helping Children Thrive: Supporting Woman Abuse Survivors as Mothers

Taking Care of Yourself

Hearing the horrific stories of women and children changes us. A service provider should take responsibility for her own best interests and encourage organizational measures to address the risks inherent in working with survivors of violence.

The effects of vicarious trauma are cumulative and build upon memories obtained through listening to the stories of one inhumane act of cruelty after another. This creates a permanent, subtle or marked change in the personal, spiritual and professional outlook of the counsellor or advocate (Richardon, 2001).

How can vicarious trauma affect me?

• how I feel (e.g., anxious), think (e.g., diminished concentration), act (e.g., use of coping strategies such as alcohol to relax), and interact with others (e.g., withdrawal from friends)

• my health (e.g., somatic reactions, impaired immune system)

• my work as a professional, including performance of job tasks, morale, interpersonal relationships with colleagues, and behaviour on the job (e.g., absenteeism)

What can I do?

• take care of myself with good nutrition, exercise, sleep, massage, time to relax

• avoid overwhelming myself with overwork, using alcohol or drugs to cope, etc.

• develop and maintain good support networks, both on and off the job

• seek assistance when I recognize signs of vicarious trauma in myself

What can my agency do?

Jan Richardson has many recommendations in her Guidebook on Vicarious Trauma:

Jan Richardson (2001). Guidebook on Vicarious Trauma: Recommended Solutions for Anti-Violence Workers. Ottawa: Health Canada.

This document can be downloaded from the web site of the National Clearinghouse on Domestic Violence

Find more information on working with abused women in these two resources from 2008.

Helping an Abused Woman: 101 Things to Know, Say & Do

Helping Abused Women in Shelters: 101 Things to Know, Say & Do

If you want more information on how children are affected by living with domestic violence, see our various publications and resources on Children and Domestic Violence