Which of the following case examples illustrates secondary traumatic stress?
A) A practitioner starts to feel overwhelmed and starts experiencing trauma symptoms after working for a few weeks with a client who is dealing with the loss of her entire family in a recent severe earthquake.
B) A client is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness shortly after experiencing a traumatic rape.
C) A client only experiences a few days of trauma symptoms.
D) A client requests treatment primarily for alcohol use, with traumatic stress as a secondary issue to be explored.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Secondary traumatic stress occurs when an individual (often a caregiver or professional working closely with trauma survivors) begins to experience trauma symptoms themselves as a result of exposure to another's traumatic experiences. In choice A, the practitioner is experiencing trauma symptoms due to working closely with a client who has experienced a severe traumatic event, which is a classic example of secondary traumatic stress.

Which of the Following Case Examples Illustrates Secondary Traumatic Stress