Hope & Resilience: Responding to Organizational and Vicarious Trauma

Transcription

1 Hope & Resilience: Responding to Organizational and Vicarious Trauma Organizational Perspective Organizational Trauma Organizations, like individuals, can be traumatized, and the result of the traumatic experience can be as devastating for organizations as it is for individuals. Organizational trauma can be a barrier to building a culture of trauma informed care. 1

2 Lifecycles, Crises, and Trauma Sources of Organizational Trauma Single catastrophic event Ongoing wounding (internal or external) Redemptive nature of the work Empathic nature of the work 2

3 Empathic Nature of the Work Vicarious the experience of another human being affects your own self Trauma the reaction/experience of the worker is specifically related to the trauma experienced by another the reaction is similar to the trauma response of survivors Burnout A severe state of exhaustion or lack of energy, that is usually brought on by unreasonable work expectations or environmental work related stress. Vicarious Trauma Relationships Heart & Mind Professional Body Spirit 3

4 Characteristics of a Traumatized Organization Cumulative discouragement Cyclical burnout of staff and leaders Regularity of re traumatizing triggers Anxiety based conversations and decisions Ongoing instability Characteristics of a Traumatized Organization Closed boundaries Stress and anxiety contagion Worldview and identity erosion Depression, despair and loss of hope and trust Exacerbating Factors Limiting attitudes and worldview Organizational amnesia Unproductive relationships between organization and environment Unrecognized wounding from trauma 4

5 Building Resilience Both an individual and organizational challenge Vicarious Resilience Resilience is not an innate gift, but a pattern of behaviors that we can learn by paying attention to strategies that have worked and by retelling the stories we tell ourselves. Personal Resilience Relationships Heart & Mind Professional Body Spirit 5

6 Supporting Resilience Hope Worth Security Connection Organizational Resilience Factors Strong core identity Organizational esteem Facilitating structures and processes Positive connection to peer agencies Hopeful and energetic leadership Leadership in Building Resilience Act as a role model Recognize & acknowledge trauma Ensure safety & contain anxiety Integrate trauma in affirming & meaningful ways 6

7 Leadership in Building Resilience Offer optimism, confidence & energy Build on strengths & bolster organizational esteem Institute facilitating structures & processes Leadership in Building Resilience Open the organization to new energy & information Set priorities to move forward WE HAVEDONETHE IMPOSSIBLE, AND THAT MAKES US MIGHTY. CAPT. MAL REYNOLDS 7

8 Thank you! Kris Bein, RSP Asst. Director Thank you! This project is supported by Grant No TA AX K011, awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. References Bell, H., Kulkarni, S., and Dalton, L. (2003). Organizational prevention of vicarious trauma. Families in Society, 84 (4), Bober, T., and Regehr, C. (2006). Strategies for reducing secondary or vicarious trauma: Do they work? Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 6(1), 1 9. Hernández, P., Gangsei, D., & Engstrom, D. (2007). Vicarious resilience: A qualitative investigation into a description of a new concept. Family Process, 46, Richardson, J. I. (2001). Guidebook on vicarious trauma: Recommended solutions for anti violence workers. Ottawa, Ontario: Public Health Agency of Canada, National Clearinghouse on Family Violence. Schauben, L., and Frazer, P. (1995). Vicarious trauma: The effects on female counselors of working with sexual violence survivors. Psychology of Women Quarterly 19, Trippany, R., White Kress, V., and Wilcoxon, S. (2004). Preventing vicarious trauma: What counselors should know when working with trauma survivors. Journal of Counseling and Development 82, van Dernoot Lipsky, L. (2007). Trauma stewardship: An everyday guide to caring for self while caring for others. San Francisco CA: Berrett Koehler Publishers, Inc. Vivian, P., and Hormann, S. (2013). Organizational trauma and healing. North Charleston, SC: Create Space. Whedon, J. (writer and director). (2002.) Serenity (television episode). In Whedon, J. and Minear, T. (Producers), Firefly: The Complete Series. Los Angeles: Mutant Enemy Productions. 8