What is vicarious trauma?

• A. A temporary stress reaction after witnessing trauma
• B. The process of change that happens because you care about other people who have been hurt and feel responsible to care for or help them, which causes changes in your psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being
• C. Burnout due to long hours
• D. A fictional psychological condition

Answer: (B)

Vicarious trauma is the cumulative transformation of a helper’s inner life that comes from empathetic engagement with others’ trauma and a sense of responsibility to help. It goes beyond a single stressful moment and can alter how you view safety, trust, control, and meaning, as well as your emotions and spirituality. This change happens through regular exposure to clients’ traumatic experiences and the ongoing care you provide, leading to shifts in psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It isn’t just burnout from long hours, and it isn’t a fictional condition. The description that emphasizes caring for others who have been hurt and the resulting changes in multiple aspects of your inner life best captures what vicarious trauma is.