British Journal of Social Work, 40(6), September 2010, pp.1927-1944.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
When social workers live and work in the same community as the people they serve, they may also be exposed to and threatened by the same traumatising circumstances as their clients. This concept is referred to as ‘shared traumatic reality’. Thus, not only are the social workers helping survivors cope with the traumas they have encountered, but in some ways they are experiencing the trauma
When social workers live and work in the same community as the people they serve, they may also be exposed to and threatened by the same traumatising circumstances as their clients. This concept is referred to as ‘shared traumatic reality’. Thus, not only are the social workers helping survivors cope with the traumas they have encountered, but in some ways they are experiencing the trauma themselves. This phenomenon of shared trauma typifies large-scale events such as terrorist attacks, wars and natural disasters. This paper aims to present the empirical and clinical knowledge gathered to date about providing treatment, particularly to social workers, in shared traumatic realities. The following five main issues are examined: the various definitions and uses of the concept in the literature; the negative and positive impact on social workers of working in a shared traumatic reality; the unique characteristics of these situations that might help explain their consequences; suggestions with helping social workers cope with the experience of shared traumatic reality; and recommendations for future research.
Subject terms:
social workers, social worker-service user relationships, traumas, emotions;
Health and Social Work, 34(2), May 2009, pp.87-96.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
The study has three aims: (1) to compare the effect of the Qassam attacks in two types of communities: development town and kibbutz; (2) to examine the relationship between posttraumatic stress (PTS) and posttraumatic growth (PTG); and (3) to examine the contribution that level of exposure, cognitive appraisal, and sense of belonging to the country make to PTS and PTG. The sample consisted of 134 residents, 67 living on two kibbutzim and 67 living in the development town of Sderot in Israel. Results revealed that the development town residents reported more PTS symptoms and more PTG than did the kibbutz residents, and the association between PTS and PTG was positive. In addition, the findings show that most of the predictors contribute to either PTS or PTG, or predicted them differently. The discussion examines the results in light of the current literature on PTS and PTG.
The study has three aims: (1) to compare the effect of the Qassam attacks in two types of communities: development town and kibbutz; (2) to examine the relationship between posttraumatic stress (PTS) and posttraumatic growth (PTG); and (3) to examine the contribution that level of exposure, cognitive appraisal, and sense of belonging to the country make to PTS and PTG. The sample consisted of 134 residents, 67 living on two kibbutzim and 67 living in the development town of Sderot in Israel. Results revealed that the development town residents reported more PTS symptoms and more PTG than did the kibbutz residents, and the association between PTS and PTG was positive. In addition, the findings show that most of the predictors contribute to either PTS or PTG, or predicted them differently. The discussion examines the results in light of the current literature on PTS and PTG.
Social Work: A journal of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), 53(3), July 2008, pp.279-281.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
A 'shared reality' is a situation in which both the intervener and the client are exposed to a similar threat. This article describes a programme to train students for intervention in a shared stressful traumatic situation. Theoretical studies, practical training, and fieldwork were combined to enable the containing and support environment the participants needed to function as both helpers and students. The shared reality used was the process of relocation necessitated by the disengagement program, Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and Northern Samaria in the summer of 2005. Students were matched with young people in the regional school to act as friends and support figures.
A 'shared reality' is a situation in which both the intervener and the client are exposed to a similar threat. This article describes a programme to train students for intervention in a shared stressful traumatic situation. Theoretical studies, practical training, and fieldwork were combined to enable the containing and support environment the participants needed to function as both helpers and students. The shared reality used was the process of relocation necessitated by the disengagement program, Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and Northern Samaria in the summer of 2005. Students were matched with young people in the regional school to act as friends and support figures.
Subject terms:
social work education, stress, student social workers, traumas, training;
British Journal of Social Work, 37(7), October 2007, pp.1247-1261.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
The study reported here assesses the severity of post-traumatic symptoms and emotional distress among hospital social workers who provided emergency treatment to victims after terrorist attacks in Israel. The authors examined the contributions of personal and professional exposure to terrorism, professional training, supervision, sense of professional confidence, and optimism to the severity of distress among 144 social workers at eighteen hospitals in various parts of the country. Emotional distress was assessed by two measures: secondary traumatization (post-traumatic symptoms after treating victims of terrorist attacks), and additional psychiatric symptomatology. Only 7 per cent of the workers reported secondary traumatization, and their levels of distress on accompanying psychiatric symptoms were significantly lower than the norms for the general Israeli population. It was also found that professional exposure to terrorism, sense of professional confidence and optimism contributed significantly to the explained variance in distress. The discussion deals with the findings in light of the rise in terrorism in recent years and the professional literature on the topic.
The study reported here assesses the severity of post-traumatic symptoms and emotional distress among hospital social workers who provided emergency treatment to victims after terrorist attacks in Israel. The authors examined the contributions of personal and professional exposure to terrorism, professional training, supervision, sense of professional confidence, and optimism to the severity of distress among 144 social workers at eighteen hospitals in various parts of the country. Emotional distress was assessed by two measures: secondary traumatization (post-traumatic symptoms after treating victims of terrorist attacks), and additional psychiatric symptomatology. Only 7 per cent of the workers reported secondary traumatization, and their levels of distress on accompanying psychiatric symptoms were significantly lower than the norms for the general Israeli population. It was also found that professional exposure to terrorism, sense of professional confidence and optimism contributed significantly to the explained variance in distress. The discussion deals with the findings in light of the rise in terrorism in recent years and the professional literature on the topic.
Subject terms:
hospital social workers, hospitals, post traumatic stress disorder, traumas, terrorism;
British Journal of Social Work, 39(3), April 2009, pp.522-538.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
The authors analyse a training programme for social work students which aims to provide the participants with tools for intervention in stress situations and crises that they experience with their clients. The present study was conducted among twenty students, who worked with adolescents during the forced relocation from the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2005. Analysis of their reactions to this intervention revealed five main themes: the nature of the helping relationship; integrating theory and practice; functioning in a changing and unpredictable environment; working in a shared reality; and the interaction between political attitudes and professional work. In contrast to conventional social work training, the course allotted considerable time to promoting dialogue, support, mutual aid, and reflection. It also extended the students’ intervention skills to the micro and macro levels of the helping professional relationship. Despite the limitations and costs of the course, the authors recommend further development of similar programmes, and continued evaluation of their effectiveness.
The authors analyse a training programme for social work students which aims to provide the participants with tools for intervention in stress situations and crises that they experience with their clients. The present study was conducted among twenty students, who worked with adolescents during the forced relocation from the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2005. Analysis of their reactions to this intervention revealed five main themes: the nature of the helping relationship; integrating theory and practice; functioning in a changing and unpredictable environment; working in a shared reality; and the interaction between political attitudes and professional work. In contrast to conventional social work training, the course allotted considerable time to promoting dialogue, support, mutual aid, and reflection. It also extended the students’ intervention skills to the micro and macro levels of the helping professional relationship. Despite the limitations and costs of the course, the authors recommend further development of similar programmes, and continued evaluation of their effectiveness.
Subject terms:
interpersonal relationships, intervention, stress, student social workers, traumas, training, young people;