Counselor Self-Care in Work with Traumatized, Addicted People

Abstract

This chapter examines the impact on substance abuse professionals of working with traumatized, addicted clients in terms of secondary trauma, vicarious trauma, burnout, and countertransference. Each of these is examined in turn, and then individual, team, and organizational strategies and recommendations for counselor self-care are presented within a strengths-based framework.

Key Words:

• Secondary trauma
• burnout
• countertransference