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Vicarious Traumatization and compassion fatigue are different than the phenomenon of countertransference. They occur as a result of an accumulation of experiences across therapies and clients and are felt far beyond the transference-countertransference issues of a specific clienttherapist relationship. Whereas countertransference is temporary, vicarious traumatization and compassion fatigue permanently change the psychological constructs of workers who engage in intense and long term trauma and are an inevitable occupational hazard of trauma work (Saakvitne & Pearlman, 1995, p. 31). The end result of vicarious traumatization and compassion fatigue are their generalizing effects on countertransference issues. As vicarious traumatization is multiplied and generalized over clients, countertransference reactions become stronger through the human service worker acting them out against the client or submerging them even deeper from awareness (Saakvitne & Pearlman, 1996, p. 48). It is my belief that for human service workers in general, and crisis workers in particular, vicarious traumatization and compassion fatigue are major mediating factors that lead to burnout.

This presentation will examine the link between countertransference, vicarious traumatization/compassion fatigue and burnout in the high adrenaline world of crisis intervention. Participants will be asked to take the Maslach Burnout Inventory and complete a questionnaire on vicarious traumatization/compassion fatigue. Results of those instruments will be discussed with an emphasis on how to recognize these culprits, and how you can innoculate yourself and your organization against them.

Saakvitne, K. W., & Pearlman, L. A. (1996). Transforming the pain: A workbook on vicarious traumatization. New York: WW. Norton.