Volume_5_Issue_4_Digest

15 TPC Digest Given the potential for significant exposure to traumatic mat rial when working with clients, counselors are at risk of developing vicarious traumatization (VT). In the process of joining with a client in the developing of a therapeutic alliance, the experience of bearing witness to challenges experienced by clients with traumatic experiences can have a profound impact on the worldview of a counselor. Though sharing similar characteristics of other concepts such as secondary stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout, VT is unique in its depth of impact. There also appears to be a cumulative effect when counselors are continually exposed to clients with trauma-related issues. There has been much discussion within our profession regarding VT and its impact on counselors with previous attention primarily related to contributing factors and methods of mitigating the effects of VT. The aim of this article is to provide a specific discussion of the impact of VT and a framework in which to address this concern within the context of clinical supervision. The nature of engagement within clinical supervision leads to strategies for both preventing and remediating VT when needed. The development of the supervisory alliance allows for ongoing assessment of the well-being of supervisees. Given the intensive nature of addressing trauma-related concerns, clinical supervisors are ideally positioned to support counselors in this work. An empirically supported counseling theory that offers a framework in which to address VT is the Indivisible Self Model of Wellness (IS-Wel). Read full article and references: Hayden, S. C. W., Williams, D. J., Canto, A. I., & Finklea, T. (2015). Shelter from the storm: Addressing vicarious traumatization through clinical supervision. The Professional Counselor , 5 , 529–542. doi: 10.15241/scwh.5.4.529 This model’s interconnected concepts and associated assessment offer a useful structure for addressing VT within clinical supervision. Assessing for the level of functioning of supervisees can provide insight as to their level of functioning within different domains of life. When threats to wellness are present, such as disruptions in perspective that may be resulting from VT, a clinical supervisor can identify and intervene to the benefit of a supervisee. Using the IS-Wel can enable a clinical supervisor to effectively assess and address VT when needed. This article contains information on the characteristics of VT, a description of the IS-Wel, and the connection between VT, the IS-Wel, and clinical supervision. A case example outlining specific strategies for implementing the proposed strategies is also provided. The primary hope on the part of the authors is that this article will provide practical information that can be utilized by clinical supervisors who suspect that VT may be an ongoing threat to the well-being of their supervisees. Seth C. W. Hayden is an Assistant Professor of Counseling at Wake Forest University. Derick J. Williams is an Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia. Angela I. Canto is an Assistant Professor at Florida State University. Tyler Finklea is a doctoral candidate at Florida State University and a graduate intern in the American University Counseling Center. Correspondence can be addressed to Seth C. W. Hayden, Wake Forest University, 1834 Wake Forest, Winston-Salem, NC 27106, haydensc@wfu.edu. 15 TPC Digest Seth C. W. Hayden Derick J. Williams Angela I. Canto Tyler Finklea Shelter From the Storm Addressing Vicarious Traumatization Through Clinical Supervision