Secondary Traumatic Stress Stewardship

Providing child-focused therapy can be enormously gratifying, but addressing trauma and other difficulties in young lives can also take a toll on mental health professionals. There is widespread recognition that occupational exposure to the suffering of others may result in distress or secondary traumatic stress (STS). Yet, STS risk factors remain poorly understood, research on STS intervention models is limited, and best practices related to STS prevention and intervention are only beginning to emerge. In the absence of rigorously conducted research to guide STS stewardship approaches, time-tested, practical suggestions for child-focused therapists are presented in this chapter. Recommended strategies for mental health professionals include the following: (a) assess organizational fit; (b) monitor STS and seek intervention when needed; (c) engage in self-compassion commensurate to the compassion bestowed upon clients; (d) intentionally disconnect from clients’ feelings and experiences after sessions to re-immerse in one’s own life; (e) balance experiences of vicarious suffering by actively engaging in activities that bring the therapist joy; (f) develop an individualized coping plan; (g) transform secondary exposure experiences into lessons learned, skill enhancement, or posttraumatic growth; and (h) maintain unwavering hope that traumatized individuals can move forward to lead gratifying lives.