Vicarious Traumatization (Compassion Fatigue) Marian De Souza, LL.B. Executive Director

Definition Cumulative physical, emotional and psychological effects of being continually exposed to traumatic stories or events when working in a helping capacity.

Four Levels of Trauma Physical: experience, physical sensation, energy building. Emotional: energy associated with emotional states of anger, fear, helplessness, etc. Mental: thinking about the event afterwards, drawing conclusions, intentions and plans. Spiritual: defining the meaning of the event relating to self.

Symptoms Increased level of stress Sleep disturbance Anxiety Intrusive thoughts Sense of futility or pessimism about people Lethargy Isolation Irritability Losing your sense of self confidence Avoiding caregiving Submersing self in caregiving opportunities in search of a successful outcome that is not reasonably achievable

How Do you Know When you are Stressed?

Acting Out vs. Acting In Acting out: Violence to others  anger and aggression Acting in: Violence to self  denial and repression Learn to channel energy in appropriate ways

Risk Factors Personal trauma history. Level of identification with client. Developmental age. Whether the professional works alone or with others. Lawyers, prosecutors, family law lawyers and judges: as a population are at risk (Professionals working with clients who have been traumatized).

The Survey says … Survey designed to evaluate the presence of burnout symptoms and compassion fatigue in lawyers working with victims of domestic violence and criminal defendants. Lawyers showed significantly higher levels of secondary traumatic stress and burnout. This difference seemed to be related to the lawyers higher caseloads and lack of supervision around trauma and its effects.

Survey results demonstrated that lawyers experienced more symptoms of secondary trauma and burnout compared with both control groups. The lawyers demonstrated higher levels of intrusive recollection of trauma material, avoidance of reminders of the material and diminished pleasure and interest in activities, and difficulties with sleep irritability, and concentration. For all respondents, increased client load predicted higher scores of vicarious trauma and burnout. The Survey says … (cont.)

Prevention: Organizational Level Some workplace issues can be linked to communication patterns, structures and personalities. Organization self-care will reduce the effects of compassion fatigue. Provide information and resources to staff relating to compassion fatigue. Quality supervision and regular staff meetings. Normalize compassion fatigue. Provide adequate time off and health care benefits. Diversify case loads.

Prevention: Individual Level

Training and development. Self care: sleep, diet, exercise, relaxation. Maintain other intellectual pursuits. Engage in creative intellectual activity. Develop and maintain a support network with co- workers, family and friends. Maintain a connection with a community that is separate from your career. Feel and process emotions.

The Gift of Trauma? Trauma as a teacher. Change and transformation. Develop a different perception of life. Enter a different world. Expanded world.

Resources Resources available to lawyers, law students & their families: Assist Executive Director, Marian De Souza, LL.B. Program Coordinator, Carolyn McCartney B.A. (Psych/Soc.) or (403) Forbes Psychological Services 24/7 Dr. Brian Forbes or after hours crisis (780)

Resources Compassion Fatigue Solutions compassionfatigue.ca Gift From Within: An International Non-profit Organization for Survivors of Trauma and Victimization giftfromwithin.org

References “Keeping Legal Minds Intact: Mitigating Compassion Fatigue among Legal Professionals,” by Linda Albert, LCSW, CSAC “Organizational Strategies for Managing Compassion Fatigue,” by Michelle Murray, M.S.W, LL.B. of the Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society “Practical Pain Management for Lawyers Exposed to Vicarious Trauma,” by Donald C. Murray, Q.C “Trauma Unit,” by Leota Embleton of OLAP “Trauma: Riding the Tiger,” by Annemieke Aardoom of the Calgary immigrant Women’s Association “Vicarious Trauma in Attorneys,” by Levin & Greisberg

Thank You WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE?