| This qualitative study explored the intrapsychic processes of secondary traumatic stress and vicarious traumatization in psychotherapy with children. Fifteen therapists were interviewed about their experiences and treatment with this population. Therapists were interviewed about treatment conducted in social service agencies, therapeutic schools, and hospital settings in a large urban area. Major findings from this study include: vicarious traumatization was reported by less than one-third of the participants; secondary traumatic stress was reported by all of the child trauma therapists as transient and expectable; and that chronic secondary traumatic stress disorder was not reported by any of the therapists. The three main coping strategies reported by both men and women were those of collegial support, supervision, and exercise. Coping strategies also included distancing from the affect when necessary, avoiding traumatic reminders and triggers in the environment, and managing the amount of noxious internal stimulation through strategic withdrawal. |
