Witnessing trauma: psychological counselors and psychologists’ experiences of secondary trauma and compassion fatigue

Key Points

• Secondary trauma significantly affects psychological counselors and psychologists, leading to burnout and emotional exhaustion.
• Findings indicate that up to 70% of the mental health providers experience varying degrees of compassion fatigue.
• Observation of counselors during therapeutic interactions shows their exposure to clients’ trauma contributes to their own distress.
• Emphasizes the importance of establishing support networks for mental health professionals to mitigate these adverse effects.