The Lived Experience of Female Psychology Trainees With Personal Trauma Histories Working With Trauma Patients
Abstract
This study sought to understand the lived experiences of psychology doctoral trainees with personal trauma histories working with patients with trauma histories. Seventeen doctoral trainees in counseling or clinical psychology were interviewed. Participants’ experiences were organized along five overarching domains: (a) vicarious traumatization, (b) impact of personal trauma history, (c) new therapist, (d) coping/supports, and (e) vicarious posttraumatic growth. Major themes included: (a) feeling sad and heartbroken, (b) emotional fatigue and bringing work home, (c) instigates personal trauma, (d) difficulty maintaining boundaries, (e) enhanced empathy, connection, and understanding, (f) draws from personal experience to inform approach, (g) mindful of how personal trauma is brought into the room, (h) feeling incompetent, (i) compartmentalizing, (j) self-care and taking time to process, (k) supervision, (l) rewarding experience: instilling pride, hope, and inspiration, and (m) recognition of clinical growth areas. Minor themes included: (a) feeling helpless and overwhelmed, (b) feeling angry, (c) empathy fatigue in outside relationships, (d) enhanced motivation and passion for helping, (e) pull to help and be perfect, (f) increased confidence in clinical abilities, (g) prompted personal reflection and insights, and (h) reevaluating and reflecting on personal relationships. Limitations of the study, suggestions for future research, and clinical implications are discussed.
Subject Area
Counseling Psychology|Psychology|Clinical psychology|Individual & family studies
Recommended Citation
Becker, Alana, "The Lived Experience of Female Psychology Trainees With Personal Trauma Histories Working With Trauma Patients" (2024). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI31146338.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI31146338
