An Investigation of Mindfulness Training As a Self-Care Strategy for Trauma Counsellors

ABSTRACT

Trauma counselors are vulnerable to negative impacts such as secondary traumatic stress and vicarious traumatization. This study investigated Mindfulness Training as a self-care strategy for counselors in South Africa, examining the effect of MT on negative and positive secondary trauma impacts (STI), and employing a quasi-experimental embedded mixed methods research model to investigate the impact of MT and areas of greatest post-intervention change. The study compared pre- and posttest scores across an MT intervention group and an active control group. A mixed Between-Within Subjects ANOVA was tested for mean differences between the two independent groups, while simultaneously subjecting participants to repeated measures, to establish whether mean changes in the outcome scores on the dependent variables from pretest to posttest differed significantly for individuals over time within the groups. Results indicated that MT was effective in reducing negative STI and in increasing trait mindfulness. Benefits were sustained three months post-intervention. MT was associated with variable rates of change on each outcome measure. The evidence supports the role of MT in reducing negative STIs in trauma counselors.

KEYWORDS:

• Mindfulness
• trauma counseling
• compassion fatigue
• mindfulness training

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. The research was conducted in accordance with both the University of the Witwatersrand Code of Ethics for Research on Human Subjects and the ethical guidelines for professionals registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) (specifically the code for professional conduct of the Professional Board of Psychology). The proposal on which the research study was based was submitted and accepted unconditionally for ethical clearance by Wits University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC – non-medical) of the University of the Witwatersrand prior to commencement of the study. The protocol number of the clearance certificate granted is H15/05/33.

2. The researcher is a Psychologist, registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

3. The principle of informed consent is common to both the HPCSA and the HREC codes of ethics. Guidelines call for the participants to be furnished with comprehensive information about the nature and purpose and possible risks and benefits of the proposed research and to be allowed freedom of choice to agree or disagree to participate. The participants were requested to sign a voluntary consent form before they were able to participate in the study.