Abstract
The “contagious” nature of trauma is discussed as it applies to professional caregivers such as psychotherapists, physicians, nurses, and others. Vicarious traumatization is described as occurring among psychotherapists who deal with patients who have experienced some form of primary trauma or PTSD. The medical field is also a source of secondary trauma, and this became particularly apparent during the COVID epidemic where, despite their best efforts, nurses and doctors were confronted with numerous patient deaths. The emotional distress that these losses caused resulted in many leaving the medical field. Distinctions are made between primary and secondary trauma, and the critical role of being able to escape the trauma situation is highlighted. The author’s direct experience in providing therapy for a traumatized patient is discussed along with the emotional and psychological distress this experience caused.
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Motta, R.W. (2023). Secondary Trauma in Professional Caregivers. In: Secondary Trauma. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-44308-4_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-44308-4_4
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