Self-Care Strategies to Combat Vicarious Trauma in Child Protection

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Vancouver Island University *

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Jan 9, 2024

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Running head: SELF CARE 1 Applications of Self Care Practices as a Response to Vicarious Trauma in the Field of Child Protection Social Work Braedan Pinder Vancouver Island University September 19 th 2018

SELF CARE 2 Throughout my time at Vancouver Island University I have been drawn to and challenged by the field of Child Protection Social Work. The challenges faced in this field are many and the trauma encountered by every professional is substantial. Beyond my classroom knowledge of self-care, the growing body of research around the phenomenon of vicarious trauma informs my self-care practices. For these reasons, I have purposefully incorporated a variety of self-care practices into both my professional and personal lives. Further, for the purposes of expressing many of the elements of my current self-care plan, I have utilized the medicine wheel self-care model (Loiselle & Lauretta, 2006). I am hopeful that through the consistent incorporation of these practices in my future professional practice I will impact the lives of both my clients and other professionals for the better. Child protection social workers work with a variety of people. This includes of course children, youth, and families, but also grandparents, school staff, extended family, and the greater community in the life of a child or youth. There is considerable and endless variety as to the setting of these encounters. The diversity present within this large a population lends itself to the encountering of situations which are emotionally difficult. Of course, protection social workers intervene in the lives of children reported to be at risk of suffering harm; this reason for contact with clients essentially ensures that each situation a protection worker enters into bears significant challenges for those who are involved. The challenges and traumas experienced by those who need help can become vehicles for the traumatization of the protection worker. For this reason, it is imperative that I carry with me effective and evolving self-care practices which both will help me as I enter the field, and be flexible enough to adapt to the varying challenges I will face as I work within it.

SELF CARE 3 While I am always tacitly aware of the opportunity for me to experience vicarious trauma within this line of work, I am of the mind that trauma is, while not specifically mentioned within its definition, woven into workplace burnout. As a result of the intensely emotional aspects of this work the most common emotional symptom is burnout. Throughout the literature burnout is defined as the emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of a sense of accomplishment due to high levels of demand by clients and employers (Maslach, 1986; Horowitz, 2008). Burnout’s clear emotional features can also occur as nightmares, inability to focus, or the inability to refocus away from a specific case or client (Horowitz, 2008). Regular self-care is a key factor in diminishing burnout (Horowitz, 2008). As I am seeking to have a meaningful and lengthy career, I will continue to incorporate self-care into my life in my time beyond VIU. As a response to the difficulties I am aware I will experience, and to those of which I am yet unaware, I practice self-care regularly across my life. As exemplified in Appendix A, my self-care practices exist across various parts of my life. The varying practices which exist in my routine help me to focus on who I am, who I am becoming, my personal life and goals, and also allow me to be fully present within my daily life. These practices have helped me thus far, but I am aware that in a professional fulltime setting there will be more self-care needed during the workday. To that end I have taken it upon myself to research what effective self-care I can be practicing during my time working in Child Protection. Two themes which have emerged through my learning process about self-care are those of continuing supervision, and collaborative practice with professionals outside my workplace (Gil & Weinberg, 2015). Supervision, being observed by and working alongside an experienced professional, will allow me an avenue through which I can work through challenging situations I am experiencing at work. It also will provide a consistent check in with a colleague who has

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SELF CARE 4 encountered similar challenges. Collaborative practice with outside professionals entails, while maintaining confidentiality, discussion around challenges being faced in the workplace regardless of if they are client or colleague challenges. Within these discussions professionals can support each other as they work to best serve their clients. Both of these practices allow for conversation towards solutions. The resolution of conflict, or at the very least the professional handling of conflict, provides an opportunity to reduce stress and focus back to the important work I will be doing as a Child Protection Social Worker. This field is one for which I am grateful to have the opportunity to work within. While the challenges are many and the victories sometimes few, I am confident that I will positively impact the lives of my clients as I learn, grow, and take care of myself as I develop in my career as a Child Protection Social Worker.

SELF CARE 5 References Gil, S., & Weinberg, M. (2015). Secondary trauma among social workers treating trauma clients: The role of coping strategies and internal resources. International Social Work, 58 (4), 551-561. doi: 10.1177/0020872814564705 Horwitz, M. J. (2006). Work-Related Trauma Effects in Child Protection Social Workers. Journal of Social Service Research, 32 (3), 1-18. doi:10.1300/j079v32n03_01 Loiselle, M., & Lauretta, M. (2006). The Wellness Wheel: An Aboriginal Contribution to Social Work . Maslach, C. (1986). Burnout research in the social services: A critique. Journal of Social Service Research , 10 (1), 95-105.

SELF CARE 6 Appendix A Physical Going to the gym Hiking Stretching Taking proper medication Mental Sleeping Reducing stress through proper planning Spending time with friends Addressing issues with immediacy Debriefing with colleagues Spiritual Prayer Bible reading Attending church Emotional Having down time Unplanned weekend days Spending time in nature Self Care

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