Secondary Trauma
Secondary Trauma
Secondary trauma is a traumatic stress response that develops from exposure to another person's trauma, even without directly experiencing it yourself.
Details
Secondary trauma refers to post-traumatic stress reactions that emerge not from direct personal experience of trauma, but from helping trauma survivors or hearing about their experiences. It is also known as vicarious trauma. Symptoms similar to PTSD can appear, including intrusive thoughts, avoidance, and hyperarousal.
Counselors, medical professionals, social workers, and first responders are particularly vulnerable to secondary trauma.
Regular self-monitoring, supervision, peer support, and self-care activities are essential for preventing and managing secondary trauma. If you're concerned this might be affecting you, Mindy is here to help you explore that.
💡 Real-Life Example
A therapist who counsels trauma survivors begins experiencing nightmares and anxiety — this is secondary trauma.
This content is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical diagnosis.