Secondary Traumatic Stress & Self-Care for Trauma Consultants Flashcards

Secondary traumatic stress (STS) in trauma consultants is BEST described as:

Answer: Trauma symptoms that emerge from indirect exposure to clients' traumatic material

STS refers to trauma-like symptoms experienced by helpers who are indirectly exposed to clients' traumatic experiences, mirroring PTSD symptomatology.

Which term was coined by Charles Figley to describe the cost of caring for traumatized individuals?

Answer: Compassion fatigue

Charles Figley coined the term 'compassion fatigue' to describe the emotional residue or strain of exposure to working with those suffering from traumatic events.

Vicarious trauma, as defined by McCann and Pearlman, primarily refers to:

Answer: Cumulative transformation of the helper's inner world due to empathic engagement with trauma survivors

Vicarious trauma specifically describes the lasting changes in a helper's cognitive schemas, identity, and worldview resulting from cumulative empathic engagement with trauma survivors.

A CTC who begins to feel that the world is inherently dangerous and that most people cannot be trusted after working with trauma survivors is experiencing which phenomenon?

Answer: Vicarious trauma

Shifts in cognitive schemas about safety, trust, power, and esteem are hallmark signs of vicarious trauma, as described in Pearlman and Saakvitne's constructivist self-development theory.

Which of the following is a PRIMARY difference between burnout and secondary traumatic stress?

Answer: Burnout develops gradually from chronic workplace stress, while STS can onset rapidly from trauma exposure

Burnout is a gradual process stemming from chronic occupational stress, whereas STS can develop suddenly following a single powerful exposure to a client's traumatic material.

Compassion satisfaction refers to:

Answer: The sense of pleasure and fulfillment derived from effectively helping trauma survivors

Compassion satisfaction is the positive feeling of effectiveness and fulfillment that helpers derive from their work, and it acts as a protective factor against compassion fatigue.

The Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) measures which THREE dimensions relevant to trauma consultants?

Answer: Compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress

The ProQOL, developed by Beth Stamm, assesses compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress as the three core dimensions of professional quality of life for helpers.