TPC Journal-Vol 9- Issue 4-FULL ISSUE

340 The Professional Counselor | Volume 9, Issue 4 reminded them of the stressful experience (66.8%). Taking too many risks or doing things that could cause personal harm (36.8%); feeling or acting as if the stressful experience were actually happening again (42.7%); and experiencing repeated, disturbing dreams of the stressful experience (49.1%) were experienced least commonly by participants. Table 2 outlines the VT symptoms of participants as measured by the PCL-5 in descending order. Table 2 PCL-5 Symptom Distribution Items in Descending Order n (%) Repeated, disturbing, and unwanted memories of the stressful experience? 220 (100%) Trouble falling or staying asleep? 157 (71.4%) Having difficulty concentrating? 156 (70.9%) Feeling distant or cut off from other people? 150 (68.2%) Feeling very upset when something reminded you of the stressful experience? 147 (66.8%) Irritable behavior, angry outbursts, or acting aggressively? 139 (63.2%) Avoiding memories, thoughts, or feelings related to the stressful experience? 139 (63.2%) Having strong negative feelings such as fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame? 134 (60.9%) Having strong physical reactions when something reminded you of the stressful experience (for example, heart pounding, trouble breathing, sweating)? 130 (59.1%) Avoiding external reminders of the stressful experience (for example, people, places, conversations, activities, objects, or situations)? 127 (57.7%) Being “superalert” or watchful or on guard? 125 (56.8%) Having strong negative beliefs about yourself, other people, or the world (for example, having thoughts such as: I am bad, there is something seriously wrong with me, no one can be trusted, the world is completely dangerous)? 125 (56.8%) Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy? 123 (55.9%) Blaming yourself or someone else for the stressful experience or what happened after it? 121 (55.0%) Trouble experiencing positive feelings (for example, being unable to feel happiness or have loving feelings for people close to you)? 119 (54.1%) Feeling jumpy or easily startled? 116 (52.7%) Trouble remembering important parts of the stressful experience? 113 (51.4%) Repeated, disturbing dreams of the stressful experience? 108 (49.1%) Suddenly feeling or acting as if the stressful experience were actually happening again (as if you were actually back there reliving it)? 94 (42.7%) Taking too many risks or doing things that could cause you harm? 81 (36.8%) Relationship Between VT Symptoms and Subthreshold PTSD Symptoms Linear regression models determined the relationship between VT symptoms and subthreshold PTSD symptoms among practicing counselors. In a backward regression, the PCL-5, measuring subthreshold PTSD symptoms, was entered as the dependent variable, and the subscales of the STSS, measuring VT symptoms, were entered as the independent variables. Results indicated that the more