Finding Your Way Through: Vicarious Trauma and the Qualitative Researcher
Location
1054
Format Type
Event
Format Type
Workshop
Start Date
January 2019
End Date
January 2019
Abstract
Vicarious trauma (compassion fatigue or secondary trauma) is the experience of being traumatized by the events and stories related to us by another person. Qualitative researchers build a deep connection with participants during field work that may create conditions which increase the risk of developing vicarious trauma. Repetitive exposure to the narratives of our participants during the analysis phase of qualitative research may also place us at risk for vicarious trauma.
As qualitative researchers and experienced licensed mental health practitioners, we co-presenters thought we were inoculated against vicarious trauma in our roles as researcher. We were wrong. We used our knowledge of vicarious trauma as counselors to help us cope, and feel it is important to share this knowledge with qualitative researchers who do not have this background. Thus, in our proposed interactive 50-minute workshop presentation, we will: a) give a brief overview of relevant research findings about the experience of vicarious trauma in qualitative researchers; b) present the indicators of vicarious trauma; c) discuss proactive measures and self-care strategies for vicarious trauma, and d) provide a safe environment to discuss the experiences of attendees with vicarious trauma and how it may impact our work as researchers.
Keywords
Vicarious trauma, secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, qualitative researchers
Finding Your Way Through: Vicarious Trauma and the Qualitative Researcher
1054
Vicarious trauma (compassion fatigue or secondary trauma) is the experience of being traumatized by the events and stories related to us by another person. Qualitative researchers build a deep connection with participants during field work that may create conditions which increase the risk of developing vicarious trauma. Repetitive exposure to the narratives of our participants during the analysis phase of qualitative research may also place us at risk for vicarious trauma.
As qualitative researchers and experienced licensed mental health practitioners, we co-presenters thought we were inoculated against vicarious trauma in our roles as researcher. We were wrong. We used our knowledge of vicarious trauma as counselors to help us cope, and feel it is important to share this knowledge with qualitative researchers who do not have this background. Thus, in our proposed interactive 50-minute workshop presentation, we will: a) give a brief overview of relevant research findings about the experience of vicarious trauma in qualitative researchers; b) present the indicators of vicarious trauma; c) discuss proactive measures and self-care strategies for vicarious trauma, and d) provide a safe environment to discuss the experiences of attendees with vicarious trauma and how it may impact our work as researchers.
Comments
Breakout Session B