Ethical competency when working with intimate partner violence among clinicians affected by trauma

Date

2018

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

TEXAS WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY

Abstract

Vicarious trauma (VT) is the internal and psychological change that occurs due to exposure to and empathic engagement with traumatic material. VT changes the ways in which clinicians view and interact with the world around them, and these changes are lasting and pervasive. While many of the predictors of VT are known, researchers have not yet explored the ways in which VT impacts clinical functioning. Beyond VT, many clinicians have experienced a personal history of trauma, and more specifically a personal history of intimate partner violence (IPV). Clinicians with a personal history of IPV may experience countertransference reactions, or over-identify with clients with a similar trauma history. Both VT and a personal history of IPV might impact ethical decision making. Ethical decision making involves using personal morality as well as professional guidelines to ensure the best quality care for clients. Ethical decision making can be impacted by clinicians’ interpersonal reactivity, or their ability to engage in self reflection and not become emotionally reactive. It has been proposed that VT and a personal history of IPV impact clinicians’ emotional functioning, but it is unclear the extent to which ethical decision making is impacted by VT or a personal history of IPV.

Description

Keywords

therapist, Intimate partner violence, vicarious trauma, Ethical decision making

Citation

Kazyaka, K. S. (2018). Ethical competency when working with intimate partner violence among clinicians affected by trauma (Doctoral dissertation). TEXAS WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY.

DOI