Goal:  To improve participants' ability to identify and address the personal and professional impact of working with persons affected by developmental trauma.

Content and Methods: Vicarious traumatization is a process by which the inner experience of the professional becomes transformed as a result of exposure to the traumatic material of the clients we serve.  Professionals who work with abused and neglected children/adults/families are exposed to stressors which have the potential to impact perceptions of self, others, safety, trust, intimacy, and meaning-making.  Over the long-term, the impact of vicarious traumatization may lead to demoralization, burnout, and increased staff turnover.  This interactive workshop will address the experience of vicarious traumatization, including definition, origins, and ways to recognize signs of VT, as well as ways to prevent, address, and re-connect to the factors which allow us to sustain ourselves in the work.  Note:  In addition to format described above, this workshop will include opportunities for self-assessment of vicarious trauma as well as compassion satisfaction using structured evaluation measures, and will include small-group exercises and discussion of key concepts.