Social Work Commons^™

Preventing Secondary Traumatic Stress In Social Workers: How To Protect Helping Professionals, Carmen M. Ortega

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Social workers are often asked to put the needs of others above their own. This, coupled with a propensity for social workers to engage with clients’ trauma, can lead to secondary traumatic stress (STS) disorder. This thesis explores how to better support social workers at individual, environmental, and organizational levels to predict and prevent STS. Based on a review of the literature, recommendations are made to improve social work policy, practice, and research. This analysis suggests that combatting STS must begin with social work students and continue through an individual’s career. Further research is required to inform the implementation of …