...LITERATURE REVIEW Literature Review – Trauma Felt by a Counselor Marie C Klemens Walsh University Abstract The purpose of this research is to identify that a counselor can be a victim of trauma, as well as their client. By taking care of oneself in a physical, mental and spiritual manner, they are preparing for a potentially well maintained professional life as a counselor. Knowledge and acceptance of these traumatic occurrences, is the first part of healing. The literature that I had obtained provided the reader, with great knowledge pertaining to the subject matter of vicarious traumatization and counter transference. By identifying both of these subjects as different forms of trauma, I also learned that they have similar qualities. With the knowledge that I am basing this research on and further exploration of this subject matter, counselors can be more prepared for their future. Literature Review - Trauma Felt by a Counselor The counseling profession is based on the realism as a powerful, but yet private relationship between a counselor and a client, but with ethics being a factor, all efforts are centered on being impartial and having good intentions (Jaffe & Diamond, 2011). Because of the tight relationship between a counselor and his or her client, it is humanly impossible that a client and a counselor will not endure feelings and reactions towards each other (Jaffe & Diamond, 2011). Trauma is the occurrence in which an individual is confronted...
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...example of a trauma caused by a natural disaster is hurricanes. Hurricanes can cause people to lose their homes, their cars, and all of their other belongings. The people affected by this natural disaster have to relocate and live in shelters. An example of a personal trauma would be sexual assault. The potential affects these events have on the survivors are grief, sadness, anger, shock, and flashbacks( Shallcross, 2010). According to Shallcross, the survivors of hurricanes also have to rebuild homes and neighborhoods and reconnect with their family members. The survivors of sexual assault are depression, fear, anger, and guilt. The potential effects of these traumas on first responders can cause physical and psychological stress. The first responders of these traumas have fast heartbeats, can become emotionally scarred, and internalize effects on the survivors. The counselor’s role on treating the survivors of trauma is a very important one. All counselors must be trained in trauma-related crisis and know the basics of disaster response( Shallcross,2010). Counselors have a different role when treating first responders affected by trauma than survivors because the first responders are trained to save lives but when they cannot they are stricken with guilt. A mental health counselor could develop VT or STS by becoming too emotional involved with her client. For example, if a mental health counselor counsels a client and they are talking about the rape and the client are graphic...
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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...
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...How trauma affects clients and counselors David Whetzel Walden University Abstract Trauma can affect anyone from first responders, to clients and counselors. Trauma can be caused by a natural disaster like a hurricane and tornadoes, to floods and draught. Trauma can also be manmade such as a terrorist attack or even spousal and rape. These traumatic experiences can cause depression, anxiety, fear, and vulnerability. Traumatic events can happen at any time and any place, and it can take a toll on the people that experienced the traumatic event, and take a toll on the counselors that are helping those who went through that traumatic event. How trauma affects clients and counselors Oklahoma tornado May 20, 2013 A tornado with winds speeds of 200 mph, with a 12 mile wide path made its way through Oklahoma City May 20, 2013. It destroyed homes, and damaged two elementary schools. The devastation of the tornado not only destroyed homes and schools, but it also killed 22 people (worldvision.org). This event caused city wide panic and despair. This caused considerable stress, anxiety, and grief for the victims and first responders because of all the devastation, and because of the citizens losing loved ones in the tornado. Suicide of a friend and loved one My friend Jim committed suicide on November 30, 2013 just two days after Thanksgiving. There was a lot of shock, questions that couldn’t be answered on why he did it, and sadness. There was a lot of confusion, especially...
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...Tsunami – Natural Disaster – Effects on the Survivor Tsunami is a sea waves that is caused by an underwater earthquake. The water quickly move under water until it reaches land with waves reaching 50 feet or higher resulting in individuals losing their family members, home, money or business from the tsunami. People who encounter a Tsunami event struggle with psychological problems days and weeks after the traumatic event such as depression and different levels of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Survivors constantly experience feelings of anxiousness and stress because of the fear of danger from another tsunami. Murdered Child – Personal Trauma causing Crisis - Effects on the Survivor The murder of a child can be devastating especially when it’s your own. The hurt and pain can be compound when the death is determined by a heartless human being. Parents and the family faces complicated issues such as trying to understand “why” someone would want to kill their child who they love and will miss. Coping with the “miss” is the challenging part. A parent of a murdered child handles grief differently. Some parents try to continue normalcy while others have extreme difficulty coping with the lost such as obsessive thinking, suicide, anger, fears and anxiety. The hard part is grieving; however; everyone grief’s differently must. Effects on First Responders First Responders are vulnerable to stress and trauma as they are exposed to events every day in their work lives...
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...of trauma-causing events to use for this assignment: * one man-made or natural disaster 9/11/01 * one more personal trauma-causing crisis Rape * Explain the potential effects these events may have on the survivors and the first responders. * Explain how the counselor’s role may differ in treating a survivor of each of the traumas you selected and how they may differ in treating a first responder to each of the traumas. * Explain how a mental health counselor could develop VT or STS in each of these traumatic events. * the belief in personal invulnerability that allows one to use public transportation at night, or the belief that the world is an orderly place, are challenged by the stories and experiences relayed to persons who practice counseling or psychotherapy with survivors of trauma. * first identified the problem of vicarious traumatization (VT), which they defined as the cumulative transformative effects upon therapists resulting from empathic engagement with traumatized clients. As part of their work, these clinicians must listen to graphically detailed de-scriptions of horrific events and bear witness to the psychological (and sometimes physical) aftermath of acts of intense cruelty and/or violence.The cumulative experience of this kind of empathic engagement can have deleterious effects upon clinicians, who may experience physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms similar to those of their traumatized clients (Pearl ...
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...The Effects of Trauma on Clients and Mental Health Counselors Examples of Trauma: For this assignment we were asked to conceptualize two traumatic events to use as examples. One man-made or natural disaster and one personal trauma. The man-made disaster I choose is a mass shooting at a college campus. The personal trauma I choose is a car accident with a family of four which leaves the father dead, but the mother and two children survive. Potential Effects on Survivors: For the survivors of the campus shooting this event may be very traumatizing. A number of survivors may experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Human-caused mass disasters can leave survivors felling vulnerable and questioning their safety in the world. (Shallcross, 2012). The surviving auto accident family members left without a husband and father are going to have to deal with grief and loss. The wife may need to cope with overwhelming responsibility and the children may feel anger and a sense of abandonment. Potential Effects on First Responders: One possible effect on first responders to the scene of both the campus shooting and the family auto accident may be Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS). STS presents itself much like PTSD and is caused by viewing others suffer trauma (Baird & Kracen, 2006). The first responders at both trauma sites can be effected greatly even if only at the scene for a short time. According to Baird & Kracen (2006) "the precipitating experience(s)...
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...Specializations and Multidisciplinary Teams COUN5004 Survey of Research in Human Development for Professional Counselors Identify your preferred counseling specialization “When the truth is fully recognized, survivors can begin their recovery. But far too often, secrecy prevails and the story of the traumatic event surfaces not as a verbal narrative but as a symptom (Herman, 1997).” The history of trauma theory was first introduced by Sigmund Freud. Through his psychoanalytic theory and practice, Freud discovered what he described as a state of disillusion in women suffering from hysteria. After WII, psychiatrists noted the severity of psychological illness of soldiers who had been in combat; and would then theorize that some individuals were predisposed to trauma while others were resilient and could cope with the stress war related events. Throughout the 21st century more and more psychologists have found evidence to support that exposure to a traumatic event or several traumatic events causes profound changes in an individual’s psychological state and has today become an area of concentration and specialization. According to Herman, traumatic events produce profound and lasting changes in physiological arousal, emotion, cognition and memory. Moreover, traumatic events may sever these normally integrated functions from one another. A victim of trauma may cope with overloaded internal balancing mechanisms by displaying one or more of the three main elements of post-traumatic...
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...Abstract Counselors are faced with emotional stress every day. Without proper self-care, counselors will experience empathy fatigue. Empathy fatigue is a serious condition which impairs counselors. Impaired counselors are unable to fulfill the responsibilities of their helping role. Practicing regular self-care is crucial to the well-being of the counselor and therefore, the counselee. Centering Prayer is a form of self-care. This paper will discuss literature on the topic of Centering Prayer and explore two studies on the effectiveness of Centering Prayer in relieving stress. This information will be applied to preventing empathy fatigue in counselors. Research shows that counselors suffer empathy fatigue (Stebnicki, 2007). This condition “results from a state of emotional, mental, physical, and occupational exhaustion that occurs as the counselors’ own wounds are continually revisited by their clients’ life stories of chronic illness, disability, trauma, grief and loss” (Stebnicki, 2007, p. 318). Empathy fatigue is a state of counselor impairment. Conversely, the soul of the helping relationship is wellness....
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...believe a person’s theoretical orientation will narrow, but will also continue to evolve. The core belief system that a therapist begins with is still there, but the platform that a therapist connects most with eventually becomes a therapist’s model. I am aware that my current orientation is rather eclectic in nature. I find a basic connection with Freud and agree that we do have instincts that are innate to every human (Corey, 2013), in essence we are all animals (Freud, 1961) of sorts. Adler was correct when he expounded on Freud’s work and introduced the idea that we are not solely shaped by our childhood experiences. Frankl, May, and Yalom have led me to the idea that there is no step by step instructional book on how to counsel clients. My experience in the military working with a multitude of different people of various religions, ethnicities, and languages has led to my acknowledgement that we are all different and are motivated and driven by many different things. Each person is different; this is what makes us special. No single solution is perfect for any two people, and there are always different variables involved with each person. Also incorporated into my view of human nature is Perls’s concept that places emphasis on what is being experienced in the here and now as being of great importance and that “the power is in the present” (Polster & Polster, 1973). At the same time it is important to recognize that what we have experienced in the past has had a...
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...accusation dating back 20 years. Trauma is a deep distressing psychological experience of an individual is detrimental to healthy growth and development. Unfortunately, everyone will experience some form of trauma throughout their life span rather it is a loss of a loved one or an unforeseen event such as rape. Some effects of trauma are not visible, such as the following: scares, bruises, or broken limbs; many are deeply embedded emotion. These embedded emotions due to the exposure to trauma can create long-term psychological disorder known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD creates a feeling of hopelessness, fear, anxiety, and depression that can occur at any time after exposure that can expand a lifetime. People who suffer from complex PTSD often...
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...professionally. According to McMinn (2011) there are three essential categories that must be considered within counseling; psychology, theology, and spirituality. To incorporate the three categories, the book down into further sections including prayer, scripture, sin, confession, forgiveness, and redemption including “what if” sections with descriptions of circumstances and the corresponding results, what works and what doesn’t within the sessions. By beginning with an active and healthy prayer life personally, the counselor is able to pray for the client both inside of and outside of the counseling sessions. McMinn (2011) discusses the importance of ethical issues of using prayer which is the source of growth in spiritual lives, promoting a relationship with God rather than promoting health. According to McMinn (2011) prayer must only be used after consent given and the potential effects considered as some forms of prayer may be detrimental to the client. Scripture use within counseling can be considered a self-help book enabling personality and behavioral changes. McMinn (2011) discusses the use of Scripture to support many forms of cognitive therapy including rational-emotive therapy (RET). These theories are based on what one thinks which is then supported by Bible Scripture and stories. Respect for the interpretation of others must be remembered with the use of Scripture within counseling. McMinn (2011) describes the “chicken or the egg” within Scripture as...
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...a school counselor in a Title One middle school located in the heart of Newark, NJ. Recently, there was a shooting at your school that involved many students. Classrooms were locked down for three hours. A few days ago, a teacher at your school said she saw in the crisis handbook that following a crisis, teachers should look for student behavior that is out of the ordinary as a way of identifying students who may need to see the school counselor. The student she is concerned about is a seventh grade (13 year old) Asian male named Tai. She said that he seems to be more withdrawn since the shootings and believes one of the students who were shot was a friend of his. Tai is new to the school this year and participates in the free lunch plan. Case Conceptualization and Needs Assessment Having a comprehensive crisis management plan in place allows members of the school staff and community to be aware of policy and procedures related to identifying students who may be in crisis. A crisis management plan should detail student behavior which may be signs of mental illness or crisis. In doing so school staff have criteria in place that helps identify those who may need assistance. According to Allen et al., the role of the school counselor is defined by the American School Counselor Association's (ASCA, 2000) by the statement, "the professional school counselor's primary role is to provide direct counseling service during and after the incident" (ASCA), school counselors are expected...
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...Psychological Abuse Coral Nichols Liberty University Abstract Psychological abuse is a form of abuse that affects many woman across all cultures and ages. This form of abuse takes on at least two different forms: emotional and verbal abuse. These two types of abuse are not the same; however they often can be very closely compared. It is understood that if one of these forms of abuse is present then the other form of abuse is often present as well. One whom works in the helping profession needs to be able to define these types of abuse as well as be able to understand the effects of the abuse on the victim. One must also be able to understand a variety of treatment methods to be able to aid the client in the healing process. A Christian counselor must also be able to provide biblical insight in the situation for the client. Introduction Abuse against women happens in many forms; some people might considering one form of abuse more damaging than others. In order for one to have a basic concept of abuse it must be defined; Krishna, Prasanna, Sheikh & Dattatreya (2014), reports “mistreatment; harming or injuring another, abuse can be divided into two categories internal and external. The external abuse is the focus on this paper, it can be physical abuse, emotional abuse, verbal abuse or sexual abuse” (p.18). The basic understanding of abuse is that it produces a negative outcome for the victim. The most prevalent form of abuse towards women is domestic violence; it...
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...counseling methodology adapted from the ABC model as introduced in Kristi Kanal’s text. The counseling pedagogy blends the elements of the ABC model with biblical principles which may be used by the Christian counselor for the purpose of short-term crisis management. A Biblical Approach to Crisis Intervention and Brief Counseling Every believer in Jesus Christ is called to a ministry of encouraging and helping others, especially to other brothers and sisters in the faith whose lives have been encroached upon by a crisis. Many times the abundant life that was promised by Jesus is disrupted when a crisis presents itself. Although every believer can experience the joy of their salvation through the ministry of the Holy Spirit which inwardly resides in them, Christians are not exempt from the distress and vulnerability that crises are capable of producing. Counseling, which is bathed in prayer and which appropriately uses and applies the Word of God, is an essential responsibility of Christian life and fellowship. Moreover, various intervention models and presuppositions are available for the Christian counselor to utilize and to adapt into a working biblical model to help others cope while experiencing a crisis situation. Therefore, it is imperative for every Christian counselor to adopt a theoretical approach to counseling which integrates sound biblical and theological principles in its methodology. Before a person can be helped through a crisis, a crisis must be...
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