http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
Common and unique features among measures of therapist distress
The overlap and unique features of three measures of therapist distress, and the potential moderating effects of selected characteristics of therapists who treat trauma clients were examined. The three measures correspond to differing explanations of therapist distress, namely; burnout, compassion fatigue/secondary traumatization, and vicarious traumatization. Participants were licensed counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists from Texas, New Mexico, and Indiana who responded to an invitation to participate in an anonymous survey. Participants completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Impact of Events Scale, the Traumatic Stress Institute Belief Scale, a demographic data sheet, and a professional profile form. Potential moderating variables included years of experience, caseload, supervision and types of trauma exposure. Factor analysis conducted on the scale scores of the three instruments indicated overlap between the TSI and the MBI in measuring the participant's perception of self and overlap between the MBI and the IES in measurement of post-traumatic stress type symptoms. Factor analysis also demonstrated unique aspects of the IES and the TSI. The IES measured only post-traumatic stress type symptoms. The TSI uniquely measured cognitive distortions in therapists' ability to relate to others, and global sense of safety. Examination of potential moderator variables indicated a relationship between type of personal trauma event and measures of therapist distress. Years of experience providing therapy had no mediating effect; however, years of experience providing therapy to trauma victims did. Therapists who reported higher percentages of clients actively working on trauma issues reported a greater sense of Personal Accomplishment. Amount of time in one-on-one supervision was positively correlated with Emotional Exhaustion and disruptions in Other Esteem. Topics of discussion during supervision also correlated with different expressions of therapist distress. Type of trauma exposure provided support for the concept of secondary traumatization of therapists. Utilizing supervision appeared to be a coping mechanism for tolerating the secondary traumatizing distress of providing therapy to trauma clients. Implications for training and supervision were discussed.
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Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-67).