The Power of Story

The Power of Story provides a self-care process that can help prevent and alleviate vicarious trauma. The stories illustrate and acknowledge that the very nature of trauma therapy exposes therapists to vicarious trauma. The stories also provide hope and encouragement to those who are story listeners. Providing therapeutic help to someone who has suffered trauma puts the therapist at risk for vicarious trauma. Unlike burnout or compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma leaves the therapist with symptoms of either acute or hypervigilant and agitated.

Key Features

• A process of renewal for therapists who treat trauma
• Self-care methods to combat vicarious trauma
• Hope and encouragement through shared stories
• Impact of vicarious trauma on therapists

Additional Information

They may have lost the desire to pursue their work or other activities in their lives that normally give them joy. Conversely, they may work night and day, desperately trying to find the "correct" approach to a particular case or personal life challenge. Relationships with family, friends, and colleagues may suffer. For some, a pervasive sense of inadequacy begins to paralyse them and makes them inflexible in their work. Like the trauma responses in our clients, vicarious trauma is very real and very troubling. Vicarious trauma negatively impacts trauma therapists in mind, body, and spirit.

Specifications

• Prologue: Dear Fellow Therapists
• Part One: On Being Real
  • Opening Poem: Set Aside the Rules
  • Being Real and the Risk for Vicarious Trauma
  • Stories
    • A Mother's Thanks
    • Godmothers
    • The Dance of Birth
    • I'm Not Black
    • Who Mirrors Who?
    • Mapmaker
• Part Two: Witnessing the Sacred
  • Opening Poem: Existing on the Edge
  • Soul Fusion and Vicarious Trauma
  • Stories
    • Winds of Change
    • Choosing Home
    • Trauma Rug
    • If I Could Only Smile
    • Twist of the Knife
    • The Story of Jacob
• Part Three: Making a Difference
  • Opening Poem: I Stand in a Forest Differently
  • How Finding Meaning in Our Work Relieves Vicarious Trauma
  • Stories
    • Flower Shop Daughter
    • Women of Stature
    • Security Blanket Rose
    • The Bag of Rocks
    • Bridge to Peace
    • Moonbeam Dialogues
• Part Four: Self-Awareness Writing Rituals
  • Introduction to Writing Rituals
• Part Five: Story Listeners Gatherings
  • Story Gathering Retreat 1
  • Story Gathering Retreat 2