Working with Survivors of Childhood Trauma

Abstract

Survivors of childhood trauma are disproportionately represented in the clinical population. However, evidence suggests that therapists often are not prepared to provide appropriate treatment or to anticipate and manage the effects this work has on them. In this article, the nature of trauma is described and the unique features of and challenges associated with working with survivors of childhood trauma are identified. The supervision needs of clinicians who work with trauma survivors are identified and supervisory skills that support the therapist in the work are presented.

Key Words:

• Trauma therapy
• childhood trauma
• vicarious traumatization
• parallel process
• boundaries
• transference
• countertransference