Trina Trotter Nussbaum

Secondary traumatic stress (STS) refers to a broad spectrum of emotional and physiological distress responses that can arise after exposure to the experiences of trauma in others. The phenomenon of non-licensed practitioners who work with trauma-exposed populations in various peacebuilding-related fields has not been studied adequately. An additional gap in the research relates to the presence of organizational protective measures to mitigate the risk of STS and related issues, such as burnout, in non-licensed practitioners. The purpose of this multiple methods study is to 1) discover what supportive organizational structures, protocols, and resources exist for practitioners who work in traumagenic environments within the fields previously mentioned, and 2) explore, using a phenomenological autoethnography, the impact of STS research on the researcher. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with nine non-licensed practitioners and unstructured interviews were conducted with four licensed key informants, working both inside the United States and internationally. The results indicate: a) a near-total absence of mental health resources available for employees, b) irregular to nonexistent supervisory structures and c) almost no protocols that address safety (physical and emotional) for workers. Participants reported high levels of emotional and physical distress from their work and mostly inadequate support from their employers. Nevertheless, high levels of compassion satisfaction were reported. A significant recommendation for nonprofit organizations is an acknowledgment of the potentially dire health ramifications for workers due to STS and related stressors. Other implications for research and practice are discussed.