The Role of Mindfulness in Mitigating Vicarious Trauma Among Mental Health Professionals

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Issue Date
2024-08-18
Authors
Saab, Reyan
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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Abstract
This capstone explores the role of mindfulness in mitigating vicarious trauma (VT) among mental health professionals. VT, a profound emotional and cognitive shift resulting from deep empathic engagement with trauma survivors, poses significant challenges to the well-being and professional efficacy of those in the mental health field. The capstone investigates how mindfulness practices such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) can serve as effective interventions to combat the detrimental effects of VT. Findings suggest that mindfulness not only helps reduce symptoms of VT but also fosters vicarious posttraumatic growth (VPTG), transforming trauma exposure into opportunities for personal and professional development. The research shows the importance of integrating mindfulness into both individual practices and organizational policies to enhance resilience and sustain mental health professionals in their roles. This capstone contributes to the broader discourse on mental health care by advocating for mindfulness as a critical tool for ensuring the well-being and longevity of professionals working in trauma-focused environments.
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Keywords
mindfulness , vicarious trauma , mindfulness-based stress reduction , mindfulness-based cognitive therapy , vicarious posttraumatic growth
License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States , openAccess
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