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Vicarious Trauma Training for Professionals and Organisations
Recognising and Coping with Vicarious Trauma
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Recognising and Coping with Vicarious Trauma
Protect your wellbeing while supporting others.
Professionals who work closely with people affected by trauma often carry an emotional burden that can impact their own wellbeing. Over time, repeated exposure to traumatic stories and experiences can lead to vicarious trauma, affecting mental health, job satisfaction, relationships, and overall resilience.
Safeline’s Vicarious Trauma Training helps professionals understand the impact of trauma exposure, recognise warning signs in themselves and colleagues, and develop practical strategies to maintain emotional wellbeing. Delivered by experienced trauma-informed counsellors, this interactive training combines professional expertise with practical tools that can be applied immediately in the workplace.
Whether you work in healthcare, education, counselling, social care, safeguarding, victim support, or the charity sector, this training will help you protect your wellbeing while continuing to provide effective support to others.
Delivery:
In-person training
Duration:
2 and a half hours including a Q&A and discussion
Group size:
Up to 20 staff members
What is Vicarious Trauma?
Vicarious trauma occurs when people are repeatedly exposed to the traumatic experiences of others through their work. Listening to disclosures, supporting survivors, responding to crises, or managing safeguarding concerns can have a cumulative emotional impact.
Unlike ordinary workplace stress, vicarious trauma can affect how individuals view themselves, others, and the world around them. Without appropriate awareness and support, it can contribute to emotional exhaustion, reduced resilience, and difficulties maintaining healthy professional boundaries.
Understanding the signs early and implementing effective coping strategies can help prevent longer-term impacts on wellbeing and performance.
By the end of the training, participants will be able to:
Understand what vicarious trauma is and why it occurs
Identify indicators of vicarious trauma in themselves and others.
Recognise the emotional, physical and psychological signs of vicarious trauma
Understand the difference between stress, burnout, compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma
Reflect on their own work-life balance and wellbeing practices
Develop strategies to build resilience and maintain emotional wellbeing
Create healthier boundaries when working with traumatic material
Identify organisational approaches that support staff wellbeing
Signs and Symptoms of Vicarious Trauma
Many professionals are unaware they are experiencing vicarious trauma until its effects become significant. Common signs include:
- Feeling emotionally drained or overwhelmed
- Difficulty switching off after work
- Increased anxiety or worry
- Changes in mood or outlook
- Sleep disturbances
- Reduced concentration
- Feeling less connected to others
- Increased cynicism or hopelessness
- Physical symptoms such as fatigue or headaches
- Loss of enjoyment in work that was previously meaningful
Recognising these signs early is an important step in maintaining wellbeing and professional effectiveness.
Who Should Attend This Training?
This training is specially designed for professionals and volunteers who regularly support or work alongside people who have experienced traumatic events. Anyone in a role involving empathy, listening to difficult experiences, or exposure to others trauma will gain valuable insight from this training.
It is particularly beneficial for:
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Counsellors, therapists, and psychotherapists
- Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVAs)
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Social workers
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Safeguarding professionals
- Teachers and educational staff
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Healthcare professionals
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Charity, outreach, and crisis support teams
- Victim support practitioners
- Housing and outreach teams
- Police and criminal justice professionals
- Managers responsible for staff wellbeing
The Vicarious Trauma Training course is suitable for both frontline practitioners and leadership teams seeking to develop a more trauma-informed workplace culture.
Book your training todayBenefits of Vicarious Trauma Training for Organisations (and Individuals)
Supporting staff wellbeing is essential for maintaining a healthy, resilient workforce.
Investing in vicarious trauma training can help organisations:
- Improve employee wellbeing
- Reduce the risk of burnout and compassion fatigue
- Support staff retention and engagement
- Increase awareness of trauma-informed practice
- Strengthen professional resilience
- Encourage healthy workplace cultures
- Promote reflective practice and self-care
- Demonstrate commitment to staff welfare
Organisations that prioritise wellbeing are better equipped to support both employees and the people they serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should attend vicarious trauma training?
Anyone working with survivors of trauma, abuse, violence, crisis, or significant distress can benefit from this training.
What is the difference between burnout and vicarious trauma?
Burnout is typically associated with workplace stress, workload, and organisational pressures. Vicarious trauma is specifically linked to exposure to other people’s traumatic experiences and can affect beliefs, emotions, and professional functioning.
Can we book the vicarious trauma training at our workplace?
Yes. Safeline can deliver training at your organisation’s premises or at an agreed venue
Is the vicarious trauma training suitable for safeguarding teams?
Absolutely. The training is particularly relevant for safeguarding professionals who regularly deal with difficult and distressing situations.
How long is the vicarious trauma training course?
The training lasts 2.5 hours, including opportunities for discussion and questions.
I am a sole practitioner, can I book this training as an individual?
Absolutely. We periodically run the training for individuals. Check out the top of this page to see when we are doing the training next.
Why Choose Safeline?
Safeline has decades of experience supporting survivors of trauma and abuse. Our specialist trainers understand the realities faced by professionals working in emotionally demanding roles and provide practical, evidence-informed guidance that participants can implement immediately.
Our training is:
- Delivered by experienced trauma-informed counsellors
- Interactive and engaging
- Based on real-world practice
- Suitable for multidisciplinary teams
- Focused on practical wellbeing strategies
- Tailored to the needs of your organisation (organisation training)
- Suitable for individuals and independent practitioners