SAMHSA describes individual trauma as an event or circumstance resulting in:physical harmemotional harmand/or life-threatening harmThe event or circumstance can have lasting adverse effects on:mental healthphysical healthemotional healthsocial well-being spiritual well-being
Source: SAMHSA, 2024
Burnout:
-
"An occupational phenomenon" (World Health Organization, 2019)
-
feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
-
increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one's job
-
reduced professional efficacy
Supportive Counseling Services
Our program offers tailored counseling to address vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress, helping students navigate their mental health challenges effectively.
Workshops & Resources
Participate in workshops designed to equip students with tools to manage stress and build resilience, fostering a healthier academic environment.
Peer Support Groups
Join our peer support groups where students can share experiences and coping strategies, creating a community of understanding and support.
Crisis Intervention
Access immediate support through our crisis intervention services, ensuring that students receive the help they need during challenging times.
PTSD:
Intrusive symptoms (flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance of internal or external reminders of the event)Avoidance symptoms (avoiding internal or external reminders of the event)Negative alterations in cognition or mood (persistent inability to experience positive emotions, detachment from others, negative beliefs or expectations about the world)Alterations of arousal and reactivity (irritable or angry outbursts, reckless behavior, hypervigilince, sleep disturbance)
Source: Source: American Psychiatric Association, 2022
Secondary Traumatic Stress
Secondary traumatic stress is defined as the experience of traumatic stress symptoms after learning about traumatic experiences that happened to other people. For law students, you might notice some secondary traumatic stress after:
-
Listening to clients describe traumatizing experiences that they have lived through or that they witnessed
-
Examining materials (video footage, photographs, transcripts) of traumatic experiences
-
Being physically present after violent or traumatic experiences, even if your role is to be the counselor or the helper
Source: Figley, 1995; Rainville, 2015
Traumatic stress symptoms could include:
- Feeling as though the images of the event or the scene cannot leave your mind or that your mind is stuck on the images
-An impending sense of dread or doom
Strategies to protect against secondary traumatic stress:
-
Firm boundaries. Leave the work phone at work! -"There's nothing I can do for my client at 9pm on a Tuesday"
-
Hobby that requires disconnection from technology: rowing, smoking meats, sculpture
-
Working out even if you are "not a workout person"
-
Ask for help!
-
Use the support of your colleagues to talk about your cases
-
Therapy
-
Acknowledge frustration and feelings of helplessness
-
If a specific practice area is for you, that is ok. There are many ways to
-
For example, public defense lawyering is not for everybody
-
Firm boundaries. Leave the work phone at work! -"There's nothing I can do for my client at 9pm on a Tuesday"
-
Hobby that requires disconnection from technology: rowing, smoking meats, sculpture
-
Working out even if you are "not a workout person"
-
Ask for help!
-
Use the support of your colleagues to talk about your cases
-
Therapy
-
Acknowledge frustration and feelings of helplessness
-
If a specific practice area is for you, that is ok. There are many ways to
-
For example, public defense lawyering is not for everybody
Burnout: WHO definition
Vicarious Trauma