The Impact on Ourselves
Those who work closely with children deal with the day-to-day tasks of helping the child and the family live with the secondary physical, psychological and social consequences of child sexual abuse. It is therefore critical that you understand the psychological and emotional impact of working with children who have been sexually abused if you are to stay healthy and effective in your role. The ability to maintain feelings of self-worth, self-esteem and energy levels are essential to ensure you are able to effectively support children and maintain your own emotional wellbeing. The first step to ensure you preserve your own wellbeing is to be self-aware.
Failure to look after yourself when working with distressing and disturbing material can impact your own well-being and in some situations can lead to vicarious, or secondary, trauma. This has been defined as “a transformation in the helper’s inner experience resulting from empathic engagement with the client’s trauma material” (Pearlman & Saakvitne, 1995).
There are three important things to know about vicarious trauma;
It manifests differently in each individual
It can occur due to exposure to one case or may be cumulative, with the effect intensifying over time and with multiple clients
It is pervasive. It affects all areas of helpers’ lives, including emotions, relationships, and their views of the world and leads to burnout.
Whilst many of you will not experience vicarious trauma, you may experience ‘burnout’. Burnout can often develop if a person has been under stress for a prolonged period and is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion. It is a sense of powerlessness and people may feel there is nothing they can do about their situation or that there is no point (Practitioner Health, NHS 2020).
Preventing vicarious traumatisation and burn out
Acknowledging that working with children who have been sexually abused can impact on your health and well-being is the most important first step in preventing it from occurring. The following ABC list outlines measures you can take to protect ourselves in the professional, organisational and personal areas of your lives (Blumerg, 2020):
Awareness (of own limitations, needs, resources, vulnerabilities and acknowledgment of your own reactions. Make time for inward reflection and making sense of everything).
Balance (valuing ourselves enough to make sure you work, play, rest and relax).
Connection (to self and others).
Only by looking after ourselves can you remain resilient and continue to find meaning in your work and help and support the children and families you work with.
Those who work closely with children deal with the day-to-day tasks of helping the child and the family live with the secondary physical, psychological and social consequences of child sexual abuse. It is therefore critical that you understand the psychological and emotional impact of working with children who have been sexually abused if you are to stay healthy and effective in your role. The ability to maintain feelings of self-worth, self-esteem and energy levels are essential to ensure you are able to effectively support children and maintain your own emotional wellbeing. The first step to ensure you preserve your own wellbeing is to be self-aware.
Failure to look after yourself when working with distressing and disturbing material can impact your own well-being and in some situations can lead to vicarious, or secondary, trauma. This has been defined as “a transformation in the helper’s inner experience resulting from empathic engagement with the client’s trauma material” (Pearlman & Saakvitne, 1995).
There are three important things to know about vicarious trauma;
It manifests differently in each individual
It can occur due to exposure to one case or may be cumulative, with the effect intensifying over time and with multiple clients
It is pervasive. It affects all areas of helpers’ lives, including emotions, relationships, and their views of the world and leads to burnout.
Whilst many of you will not experience vicarious trauma, you may experience ‘burnout’. Burnout can often develop if a person has been under stress for a prolonged period and is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion. It is a sense of powerlessness and people may feel there is nothing they can do about their situation or that there is no point (Practitioner Health, NHS 2020).
Preventing vicarious traumatisation and burn out
Acknowledging that working with children who have been sexually abused can impact on your health and well-being is the most important first step in preventing it from occurring. The following ABC list outlines measures you can take to protect ourselves in the professional, organisational and personal areas of your lives (Blumerg, 2020):
Awareness (of own limitations, needs, resources, vulnerabilities and acknowledgment of your own reactions. Make time for inward reflection and making sense of everything).
Balance (valuing ourselves enough to make sure you work, play, rest and relax).
Connection (to self and others).
Only by looking after ourselves can you remain resilient and continue to find meaning in your work and help and support the children and families you work with.