Date of Conferral

2-29-2024

Date of Award

February 2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Counselor Education and Supervision

Advisor

Mark Stauffer

Abstract

Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is prevalent in counselors working with clients with trauma. Clients seeking services in community mental health (CMH) settings often have a higher prevalence of traumatic experiences and are unable to access services outside of CMH settings. Counselors working in these settings also generally face high caseloads, less pay, and often less experience in the field. Trauma informed care (TIC) has been shown to increase positive outcomes for clients and counselors providing services to clients. This quantitative survey study focused on the relationship between counselor attitudes related toward TIC and the severity of STS experienced by counselors. Lazarus and Folkman’s theory of transactional stress and Harris and Fallot’s creating cultures of TIC were the theoretical and conceptual frameworks. The relationship between counselor attitudes related toward TIC, the independent variable, was measured by the ARTIC-45 Scale and the severity of STS experienced by counselors in CMH, the dependent variable, was measured by the STS Scale (STSS). Data from these measures were analyzed using a multiple regression to better understand the relationship between the seven subscales of the ARTIC-45 and total score from the STSS. A statistically significant correlation was identified between the STSS and one subscale of the ARTIC-45, self-efficacy at work. As respondents’ ARTIC-45 score increased in self-efficacy at work, their STSS score decreased, meaning they were reporting fewer symptoms and a lower severity of STS symptoms. The results of this study can be used to advocate for TIC implementation in CMH settings to increase the wellness of counselors serving clients that find services in this setting vital to their mental health and well-being.

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