DOMAIN 4: SECONDARY TRAUMATIC STRESS–INFORMED SUPERVISION
Item 17
To what extent do supervisors discuss and normalize common emotional responses to working with people impacted by trauma?
Strategies for Supervisors:
- Strategies for normalizing common emotional responses to trauma work include
- identifying and sharing emotional responses you have experienced;
- describing common reactions you have observed in others;
- referring to fact sheets, research articles, and other STS resources that list common responses; and
- emphasizing that these are normal and expected responses to an abnormal event, which is an occupational hazard and in no way suggests anything is wrong with the staff member for having these responses.
Implementation Resources:
Fact Sheets
- “Secondary Traumatic Stress: A Fact Sheet for Child-Serving Professionals,” from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) provides an overview of STS, how STS appears in professionals, who is at risk, and strategies for prevention and intervention.
Podcasts and Videos
- “Secondary Traumatic Stress” (8 minutes) from the Well@Work podcast series produced by the University of Kentucky Center on Trauma & Children. Dr. Ginny Sprang provides information on the impacts of indirect trauma exposure on professionals providing direct services. She defines STS and recommends ways to mitigate the impacts.
Select Action Plan to begin to organize and implement next steps.