Vicarious Trauma

When you help others through their trauma, it can affect you, too. Vicarious trauma is common among therapists, nurses, social workers, and first responders. It shows up as changes in worldview—feeling less safe, more hopeless, or emotionally numb.

Left unchecked, it can lead to compassion fatigue or burnout. Protection comes through awareness, supervision, and intentional self-care practices. Talking to peers, setting boundaries, and engaging in restorative activities are not luxuries—they’re safeguards that allow helpers to keep helping without losing themselves.