Ethical competency when working with intimate partner violence among clinicians affected by trauma
Date
2018
Authors
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
item.page.type
Article
item.page.format
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.