Helping the Helpers

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How to Take This Course:

• 1 View Course Worksheet -  View the course worksheet or print it out to review later
• 2 Read the Course Material -  As you read through, mark your answers on the course worksheet to be prepared for the exam
• 3 Take Exam -  You must achieve a score of 75% or higher in order to earn credit for the course.
• You don't need to pay for an exam until AFTER you pass it. If you have any questions or need more information, please click here.

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CE Course Description

Trauma is a prevalent issue in the United States that can impact individuals, families, and communities. Some estimates show that 70% of adults will experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Each person who has been through trauma has their own unique experience. Still, the lasting impression of trauma can negatively affect a person’s mental and physical health, their ability to cope and function, and their social, emotional, and/or spiritual well-being. More than ever, mental health professionals are providing support to clients who have experienced trauma while also living through similar traumatic events and stressors. These shared experiences, along with the nature of doing therapeutic work, can cause mental health professionals to have difficulty in their personal and professional lives. They may also experience a range of responses to their work, including vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and/or burnout. This course will provide an overview of vicarious trauma, including risk factors, symptoms, and the ethical implications that may go along with it. Secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout will be reviewed with a focus on how these responses are different from vicarious trauma. Individual self-care techniques will also be offered, along with suggestions for creating a trauma-informed workplace. 

Author: Amy Colver, MSSA, MA, LISW

CE Course Objectives

1. Demonstrate an understanding of vicarious trauma, including the risk factors that can lead to it and the symptoms that accompany it. 
2. Identify how vicarious trauma differs from secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout.
3. Select self-care techniques that promote personal and professional resilience and apply them in your life.

Course Date: 2025-08-14

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