Being a social worker when you also have trauma

[SA-nix]

Hi Doctor Joy.
I want to talk to you about how to cope in my chosen work field of social work and how I navigate it as a person who has experienced both physical and sexual abuse personally.
At 14 years old I was convicted of a crime and incarcerated for 6 months. During my time I was locked up i was sexually assaulted by an adult staff member multiple times in my lock up facility, I unwillingly watched other incarcerated teens physically assault each other, I was assaulted and had my arm broken by another teen. I also saw other teenagers rape each other and staff members beat and violently restrain out of control inmates. I often have nightmares of being back in juvie. I have flash backs of incidents there that are trigged from things in my environment that leave me anxious, irritable, paranoid and fearful for hours at a time. I believe I am suffering from PTSD.
In your opinion, could my own trauma give me greater empathy towards people I am tasked with helping or would more than likely be a hinderance.

 

[Joy Palmer]

Hi Doctor Joy.
I want to talk to you about how to cope in my chosen work field of social work and how I navigate it as a person who has experienced both physical and sexual abuse personally.
At 14 years old I was convicted of a crime and incarcerated for 6 months. During my time I was locked up i was sexually assaulted by an adult staff member multiple times in my lock up facility, I unwillingly watched other incarcerated teens physically assault each other, I was assaulted and had my arm broken by another teen. I also saw other teenagers rape each other and staff members beat and violently restrain out of control inmates. I often have nightmares of being back in juvie. I have flash backs of incidents there that are trigged from things in my environment that leave me anxious, irritable, paranoid and fearful for hours at a time. I believe I am suffering from PTSD.
In your opinion, could my own trauma give me greater empathy towards people I am tasked with helping or would more than likely be a hinderance.

Hello there. I'm sorry to hear about your experiences at such a young age, and it's understandable that you may be suffering from PTSD. To answer your question, your trauma could give you greater empathy towards people you work with, as you may be able to relate to the struggles and trauma they are experiencing. However, it's important to be aware that trauma can also trigger intense emotions and reactions that may interfere with your ability to be objective and establish healthy boundaries.

It's essential to prioritize self-care and boundary setting, which will help ensure that your trauma experiences do not negatively impact your ability to help others. It may be helpful to work with a therapist or counselor to process your own trauma and develop coping strategies that will help you navigate your work field more effectively.

Overall, your personal experiences can provide you with unique insight and understanding that can positively impact your work as a social worker. However, it's important to prioritize self-care and take steps to manage symptoms of PTSD.

 

[SA-nix]

Hello there. I'm sorry to hear about your experiences at such a young age, and it's understandable that you may be suffering from PTSD. To answer your question, your trauma could give you greater empathy towards people you work with, as you may be able to relate to the struggles and trauma they are experiencing. However, it's important to be aware that trauma can also trigger intense emotions and reactions that may interfere with your ability to be objective and establish healthy boundaries.

It's essential to prioritize self-care and boundary setting, which will help ensure that your trauma experiences do not negatively impact your ability to help others. It may be helpful to work with a therapist or counselor to process your own trauma and develop coping strategies that will help you navigate your work field more effectively.

Overall, your personal experiences can provide you with unique insight and understanding that can positively impact your work as a social worker. However, it's important to prioritize self-care and take steps to manage symptoms of PTSD.

Thank you for that advice Dr. Joy. I appreciate the insight of another who also has to work in a field that is similar to mine.
I have another question to ask you.

There have been times when I have access to information about my clients that is very personal. Sometimes it might even be upsetting for me to read because it triggers a response in me because it reminds me of my own abuse or is very similar to mine. If I am to do my job effectively i must be able to look at and use this information effectively and not have it affect my clients negatively in terms of their outcomes even if it is upsetting to me as a human.
Do you have any advice on how to work effectively with clients who have trauma that might be upsetting to me because it reminds me of my own?

 

[Joy Palmer]

Thank you for that advice Dr. Joy. I appreciate the insight of another who also has to work in a field that is similar to mine.
I have another question to ask you.

There have been times when I have access to information about my clients that is very personal. Sometimes it might even be upsetting for me to read because it triggers a response in me because it reminds me of my own abuse or is very similar to mine. If I am to do my job effectively i must be able to look at and use this information effectively and not have it affect my clients negatively in terms of their outcomes even if it is upsetting to me as a human.
Do you have any advice on how to work effectively with clients who have trauma that might be upsetting to me because it reminds me of my own?

It's understandable that reading personal information about your clients may trigger a response in you, especially if it's similar to your own experiences. It's important to acknowledge these triggers and take steps to manage them so that they don't negatively impact your work with clients.

Here are a few suggestions to help you work effectively with clients who have experienced trauma:

1. Self-care: Prioritizing your own self-care is essential. You need to take care of yourself first, so you can effectively help others. It's important to establish healthy boundaries, make time for activities that you enjoy, and seek support from a therapist or trusted friend.

2. Develop awareness: Develop an awareness of your triggers and how they may impact your work with clients. Understanding your triggers will help you take steps to manage them.

3. Stay objective: It's important to remain objective when working with clients. Remember that your role is to support and guide them, and it's not about you. Avoid making assumptions or judgments based on personal experiences or reactions.

4. Practice empathy: Even though it's essential to remain objective, it's still important to practice empathy with your clients. It means trying to understand the client's perspective and feelings while still maintaining professional boundaries.

5. Seek supervision: Consult with your supervisor, colleagues, or a peer support organization if you're experiencing difficulty managing your triggers or emotions. Your colleagues may offer a different insight that would be helpful.

Remember, trauma-informed care means taking care of ourselves as well as our clients. Trauma can have a profound impact on individuals, including people who are dedicated social service providers. Seeking guidance and support is essential to keep both the provider and client safe.

 

[SA-nix]

Dr. Joy, your response to my previous question was very helpful. I would like to get more specific with the question.
How should I go about telling my supervisor that I do not feel comfortable working with a client because my own abuse would cause me discomfort working with them because it is so similar to their abuse and working with them would potentially not give the client the best outcome? Do I need to disclose the graphic details of my abuse or can I be more vague without divulging specific details.

 

[Joy Palmer]

Dr. Joy, your response to my previous question was very helpful. I would like to get more specific with the question.
How should I go about telling my supervisor that I do not feel comfortable working with a client because my own abuse would cause me discomfort working with them because it is so similar to their abuse and working with them would potentially not give the client the best outcome? Do I need to disclose the graphic details of my abuse or can I be more vague without divulging specific details.

If you do not feel comfortable working with a client because their experiences are too similar to your own, it's important to speak with your supervisor about it. You don't necessarily need to disclose the graphic details of your abuse to your supervisor, but you should convey the general nature of your discomfort.

You can be more vague when explaining your discomfort to your supervisor, for example, telling them that a client's experiences trigger personal feelings or memories of your past. However, you may want to offer an alternative or solution before telling your supervisor that you are unable to work with the client.

For instance, you might suggest that another therapist or service provider might be better suited for the client, or you offer to provide support and guidance to the new therapist if necessary. By offering a solution, you are showing your willingness to help the client while still prioritizing your own well-being.

Overall, it's important to remember that being upfront and honest with your supervisor about your discomfort would be better, instead of doing nothing or trying to work with the client while struggling yourself. Working effectively with clients means taking care of yourself as well.