How to Recognise Vicarious Trauma (and What to Do About It): Insights from a Clinical Supervisor in the NfP Sector
Meta Description:
Vicarious trauma affects many professionals exposed to others’ trauma. A Clinical Supervisor from one of our NfP partners shares how to recognise the signs and what truly supports recovery.
Target Keywords: vicarious trauma, trauma-informed care, self-care for social workers, secondary trauma, mental health burnout
The Hidden Cost of Helping
One of Be Recruitment’s long-standing NfP clients — a Clinical Supervisor supporting frontline staff in mental health, family services, and crisis response — recently shared an important reminder with us:
“Vicarious trauma isn’t a personal failing. It’s a natural consequence of caring deeply in environments where distress, trauma, and crisis are part of people’s everyday reality.”
In community services, social work, and counselling roles, workers often sit with the most vulnerable moments of someone else’s life. Over time, that exposure can shift how a person thinks, feels, and interprets the world — a process known as vicarious trauma.
Studies show up to 50% of helping professionals experience trauma symptoms through secondary exposure (Adams et al., 2006). Our client confirms this aligns closely with what they see in practice.
What Vicarious Trauma Looks Like
According to the Clinical Supervisor — and consistent with guidance from the Blue Knot Foundation — the signs can be subtle at first:
Emotional detachment or becoming constantly “on guard.”
Avoiding certain cases or trauma-heavy conversations
Feeling the world is less safe than it used to be
Difficulty sleeping or switching off
Feeling tense, irritable, or easily overwhelmed
Increased self-doubt or questioning your ability to do the work
They note that staff often recognise burnout more easily than vicarious trauma, as vicarious trauma tends to affect worldview, trust, and a person’s sense of internal safety.
The Science Behind It (and What Supervisors See)
The Clinical Supervisor highlighted that vicarious trauma is both neurological and emotional shaped by the brain’s response to repeated exposure to others’ pain.
Their experience echoes recent research:
Emotional regulation skills help frontline workers buffer the impact of secondary trauma (Azam et al., 2023).
Teams with access to regular reflective supervision experience fewer symptoms and maintain stronger engagement.
Organisations that encourage work–life balance, realistic caseloads, and trauma-informed leadership see lower turnover and higher staff wellbeing.
In their words:
“Workers don’t burn out because they’re not resilient. They burn out when they’re left to carry trauma alone.”
Practical Strategies Recommended by NfP Clinical Supervisors
Reflective Supervision
Providing a consistent space to unpack emotional content is one of the strongest protective factors. It helps workers process experiences before they accumulate.
Grounding and Regulation Techniques
Breathing, mindfulness, stretching, or sensory grounding help calm the nervous system after challenging sessions or crisis events.
Healthy Professional Boundaries
Our client emphasises that healthy detachment is ethical — not avoidance.
It allows staff to offer empathy without absorbing trauma.
Peer Connection
Informal conversations with colleagues who understand the work create community, normalise reactions, and reduce the sense of isolation.
Access to Professional Support
Whether through internal clinical supervision, external counselling, or EAPs, seeking help early prevents escalation.
The Australian Association of Social Workers positions reflective practice as an ethical requirement — something the Clinical Supervisor strongly agrees with.
Final Takeaway
You can care deeply and still protect your own wellbeing.
Recognising the early signs of vicarious trauma is essential for sustaining compassion, effectiveness, and long-term career wellbeing.
Our client’s message is clear:
“Support your staff, normalise supervision, and build cultures where people don’t have to be brave alone.”
At Be Recruitment, we’re proud to partner with organisations prioritising reflective practice, psychological safety, and staff wellbeing every day.
👉 If you’re looking for roles in teams that support their workforce, explore current opportunities with Be Recruitment.
