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Abstract: 

This article highlights the construct of vicarious resilience as a method of combatting the secondary traumatic impacts that are extremely among those who provide services to sexual assault and other trauma victims. Authors Irene D. Gallegos and Kwynn Gonzalez-Pons underscore the idea that witnessing the traumatic narratives of clients need not result in vicarious traumatization or burnout. Rather, through the use of social support and humor, the finding of meaning and hope in this difficult work, and a focus upon the intrinsic satisfactions associated with helping others overcome their traumatic past, workers in this field can avoid secondary traumatic stress and, instead, develop a healthy dose of vicarious resilience.

Keywords: Trauma Exposure; Vicarious Resilience Training

Affiliations:  1: University of Texas at Arlington; 2: University of Utah.