CDT Secondary Traumatic Stress & Self-Care for Practitioners

Question 1

What distinguishes secondary traumatic stress (STS) from burnout in CDT practitioners?

Accepted Answer

STS arises from indirect exposure to client trauma content and mirrors trauma symptoms, while burnout stems from cumulative work-related exhaustion

Answer

Burnout involves trauma symptoms and STS involves general fatigue

Answer

STS only affects practitioners in crisis intervention settings

Answer

Burnout and STS are identical conditions with different names

Question 2

Which of the following is a recognized symptom of secondary traumatic stress in disability trauma practitioners?

Accepted Answer

Intrusive thoughts about client trauma stories

Answer

Increased empathy and engagement with clients

Answer

Reduced administrative workload

Answer

Improved boundary maintenance

Question 3

What is compassion fatigue and how does it relate to CDT practice?

Accepted Answer

A state of emotional and physical exhaustion from the cost of caring, reducing a practitioner's capacity for empathy over time

Answer

Increased professional distance and objectivity after years of practice

Answer

A temporary fatigue resolved by a single vacation

Answer

A condition that only affects volunteers, not paid practitioners

Question 4

What organizational factor most significantly increases CDT practitioners' risk for secondary traumatic stress?

Accepted Answer

High caseloads with inadequate supervision and support

Answer

Specializing in disability trauma work

Answer

Having personal experience with disability

Answer

Using evidence-based interventions with clients

Question 5

Which self-care strategy has the strongest evidence for preventing STS in trauma practitioners?

Accepted Answer

Regular clinical supervision and peer consultation

Answer

Avoiding all personal reflection about client cases

Answer

Switching client populations frequently

Answer

Limiting session length to 30 minutes

Question 6

What does 'post-traumatic growth' mean for CDT practitioners who have experienced STS?

Accepted Answer

Positive psychological transformation that can emerge from navigating and integrating traumatic experiences

Answer

Returning to pre-STS functioning without any lasting change

Answer

A stage where practitioners become immune to further STS

Answer

Formal promotion or advancement after a traumatic incident