Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is the experience of being negatively impacted by indirect trauma exposure and is a normal and predictable result of working in some helping professions. STS often looks like a trauma response and may include changes in worldview, feelings of helplessness, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, and cynicism.
At Spurwink, we are continuously working to support our staff and reduce secondary traumatic stress. If you are looking to do work that matters, learn more about starting your career in behavioral health care.
Empathic Strain
Another experience related to secondary traumatic stress that can impact behavioral healthcare workers is empathic strain. Empathic strain is defined as physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion from engaging with the suffering of others for a prolonged period.
Unlike STS, empathic strain does not necessarily result from trauma exposure. Between 40% and 85% of helping professionals report empathic strain or high rates of trauma symptoms.
Negative Impacts of Secondary Traumatic Stress
Secondary traumatic stress can and does impact healthcare organizations negatively. It can lead to quick turnover, increased conflict, and productivity loss, among other issues.
Research from Bates College students with Spurwink staff suggests that empathic strain and secondary traumatic stress are shaped by both personal and workplace factors. They found that early-career professionals, parents, and those experiencing over-availability and excessive workloads are particularly vulnerable to these conditions due to greater emotional and occupational demands.
Reducing Secondary Traumatic Stress
Reducing STS involves minimizing the effects of indirect trauma exposure through structured training, workplace policies, and proactive emotional support.
Here are five key steps behavioral healthcare workers can take to reduce secondary traumatic stress:
- Prepare staff with trauma-informed training and strategies for stress resilience.
- Monitor signs of STS through regular check-ins and supervision.
- Balance caseloads to reduce overwhelming exposure to traumatic content.
- Provide preventative psychoeducation and coping skills training.
- Reinforce support through STS-informed leadership and peer networks.
Bates College researchers also found that both empathic strain and STS can be reduced when healthcare workers have the following:
- Strong and active support systems
- Flexible schedules
- A clear sense of purpose
- The ability to separate work-related stress from their personal lives
The CE-CERT Model
One strategy that can help reduce the impact of STS is CE-CERT (Components for Enhancing Career Experience and Reducing Trauma). CE-CERT is an evidence-informed model developed to support professionals in trauma-exposed settings, including healthcare, child welfare, behavioral health, and education.
CE-CERT aims to help individuals find greater meaning and fulfillment in their work while minimizing the effects of STS and burnout. It promotes practical, in-the-moment techniques that can be used throughout the workday. By teaching professionals to manage their emotional experiences intentionally, it allows them to process feelings without harm and stay engaged in their work.
The CE-CERT model consists of five skills professionals can develop to maintain well-being:
- Feeling the feels: experiential engagement
- Reset and recover: parasympathetic recovery
- Stopping the spin: decreasing rumination
- Finding joy: reducing emotional labor
- Conscious narrative: creating your story
Reducing Secondary Traumatic Stress at Spurwink
At Spurwink, we’re actively committed to supporting our staff and preventing secondary traumatic stress and empathic strain.
When surveyed, Spurwink staff responded that their supportive teams, mission-driven work, and the impact they have on their community are the parts of their job they value most. Spurwink has a committee dedicated to secondary traumatic stress, aiming to promote a culture that celebrates impact while keeping staff aware of the effects of STS and empathic strain. We are continuously reviewing and implementing policies to support staff and keep them informed to recognize and respond to these challenges.
If you are ready for a mission-driven career in behavioral health with a supportive team, learn more at spurwink.org/careers.
