Secondary Trauma: Silent Suffering and Its Treatment (1st ed. 2023)

By: Robert W. Motta

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Synopsis: This book focuses on secondary trauma as distinct from other forms of psychological trauma and PTSD. While PTSD has garnered considerable attention in the literature, secondary trauma afflicts a far greater number of people. Secondary trauma refers to the spread of negative emotional and cognitive states from those who are traumatized to those who have close contact with these individuals. While PTSD and other forms of primary trauma can negatively alter one’s self-perception and result in a fearful distrust of one’s environment, secondary trauma taxes and drains one emotionally but often does not cause a weary distrust of the environment and negative self-view. The book delineates how, when, and where secondary trauma occurs and provides the latest information on treatments. it is noted that unlike primary trauma and PTSD which respond to traditional treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure therapy, secondary traumatization is best addressed with interventions such as targeted social support, various exercise interventions, mindfulness, yoga, animal assisted therapy, and immersion in natural environments. Secondary trauma is a common and commonly ignored stressor whose impact is wide ranging. This volume accessibly brings this problem to the fore and is a resource for all of those who deal with "silent sufferers" and paves the way for further, necessary study.