Navigating the Challenges of Trauma Counselling: How Counsellors Thrive and Sustain Their Engagement

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the factors that help counsellors exposed to indirect trauma thrive personally and professionally, and sustain their engagement in trauma counselling work. The existing literature details the challenges of indirect trauma exposure in trauma work. However, the ways in which counsellors are able to derive rewards and maintain their engagement in trauma counselling work are less well recognised. The study used a grounded theory approach, with semistructured interviews conducted with 18 therapists. The study found four main interrelating themes: thriving in trauma work; navigating the empathic journey; empathic stamina and engaging in self-reflexivity; and sustaining interest and commitment. Important factors included attending to both the adverse and rewarding aspects of trauma work, having access to appropriate support structures, and incorporating variability and diversity in the work. This study extends the current understanding of the processes, practices, and strategies that promote the rewarding and sustaining aspects of trauma counselling work.

暴露于间接创伤经历的心理咨询师，哪些因素有助于他们个人和职业的健强，使他们的创伤咨询工作得以持续下去？本文对此做了定性研究。现有的文献对间接暴露于创伤经历的情形有详尽的描述。不过，关于咨询师以哪些方式从创伤咨询工作中得到回报并能够继续干下去，还没有多少记载。本文使用一种较实在的理论方法，对18位心理咨询师做了半固定化的访谈。作者发现了四个相互关联的论题：在创伤工作中健强；导航移情的过程；移情的持续力与对自我的反省；保持兴趣持之以恒。重要的影响因素包括关注创伤工作的有利和不利的两个方面；得到适当的支持性结构；吸纳工作中的变化性和多样性。对于促进和延续创伤工作一面的过程、实践以及策略等等，本文在既往理解的基础上又有所扩展。

Keywords:

• Trauma Counselling
• Vicarious Traumatisation
• Compassion Fatigue
• Compassion Satisfaction
• Qualitative Research
• Counsellor Stress