What is vicarious trauma?

• A. Infliction of trauma through direct assault
• B. Broadly includes changes in self-perception and worldview after working with traumatized people
• C. A term for burnout due to long shifts
• D. A physical injury from exposure to hazards

Answer: (B)

Vicarious trauma describes the psychological impact that comes from prolonged exposure to other people’s traumatic experiences through professional work. It leads to changes in how you see yourself, others, and the world—altering beliefs about safety, trust, control, and meaning. These shifts arise from empathic engagement with clients’ trauma narratives and can accumulate over time, even without any personal exposure to the event itself. This is distinct from direct personal injury or violence, from burnout from lengthy shifts, or from any physical injury. The option that captures this broader impact on self-perception and worldview after working with traumatized people is the best description.