DOMAIN 5: SECONDARY TRAUMATIC STRESS–INFORMED TRAINING
Item 7
Strategies:
- Recognize the importance of training supervisors on how to assess and address their own STS. This is essential because supervisors play a key role in supporting staff and addressing STS in the organization and they too often experience high levels of STS. Supervisors should also learn how to provide STS-informed support and guidance to staff. Supervisors can engage in self-rating on the STS Supervisory Competencies and/or watch the suggested podcast or video during supervisors’ meetings to have the opportunity to discuss and share strategies.
Implementation Resources:
Assessments
- “Secondary Traumatic Stress Core Competencies in Trauma-Informed Supervision developed” by the National Child Traumatic Stress Organization.
Version 1 is designed for a cross-disciplinary audience and is referenced in the Supervisor domain (and is not specific to mental/behavioral health supervisors):- “Secondary Traumatic Stress Core Competencies in Trauma-Informed Supervision: Cross-Disciplinary Version,” from National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN).
- Companion document for the cross-disciplinary version that includes additional resources and strategies.
- Version 2 is designed for mental/behavioral health supervisors:
Podcasts and Videos
- “Supervision: How Supervisors Can Combat Secondary Traumatic Stress” (5 minutes), from the Well@Work podcast series, produced by the University of Kentucky Center on Trauma & Children. Alison Hendricks, LCSW, talks about how supervisors can provide STS-related support to their staff, how to assess areas of need, and where to look for guidance and resources.
- Supervision with Intentionality is a 60-minute Q&A with Brian Miller, Ph.D. on where and how supervisors get the support that they need. Scroll to down the page to view the interview.
For more information, go to Domain 4, “Secondary Traumatic Stress–Informed Supervision and Leadership.”
Select Action Plan to begin to organize and implement next steps.