Therapy for Different Types of Trauma and Vicarious Trauma
Understanding the Impact of Trauma, Even When It's Not Your Own
If you support others through crisis or pain, their trauma may quietly start to shape your own nervous system, leaving you anxious, depleted, or overwhelmed. Vicarious trauma, often overshadowed by more direct experiences of trauma, is a deeply real and often unspoken cost of caring.
As trauma therapists, we witness firsthand how profound this impact can be. This article explores different types of trauma, including vicarious trauma, and how trauma-informed therapy can help you reconnect with resilience, restore your sense of self, and keep doing the work you care about without burning out.
What Is Vicarious Trauma?
Also known as secondary trauma, vicarious trauma occurs when we are indirectly exposed to the suffering of others. It’s particularly common among therapists, social workers, nurses, first responders, and anyone in a caregiving role. The same empathy that allows us to show up for others can leave us vulnerable to absorbing their pain.
Symptoms often mirror those of PTSD:
Emotional numbness
Persistent anxiety or irritability
Difficulty sleeping or relaxing
Hopelessness, guilt, or helplessness
A diminished sense of meaning in your work
You may find yourself zoning out in meetings, reacting sharply to small things, or feeling disconnected from your body. Over time, this internal erosion can take a toll on your physical and emotional health.
Types of Trauma You Might Be Carrying
To fully understand vicarious trauma, it’s helpful to explore the wider spectrum of trauma experiences:
Acute Trauma: Arises from a single distressing event, such as a car accident, medical crisis, or physical assault. The impact may be immediate or delayed but often includes strong physiological responses.
Chronic Trauma: Results from repeated exposure to stressful experiences like domestic violence, ongoing workplace bullying, or long-term illness. Chronic trauma wears down your capacity to cope over time.
Complex Trauma: Develops from exposure to multiple traumatic events, particularly during childhood. This often includes attachment wounds, neglect, or abuse and can affect one’s sense of identity, safety, and worth.
Developmental Trauma: Occurs in critical periods of growth. Children who grow up with emotional neglect, unpredictability, or abuse may develop survival strategies that become lifelong patterns.
Vicarious Trauma: Impacts those who witness or hear about the trauma of others repeatedly. Over time, it can blur the boundary between your pain and someone else’s, making it difficult to distinguish what belongs to you.
Therapy for Vicarious Trauma
Therapy for vicarious trauma isn’t about “toughening up”, it’s about honouring your limits and helping your nervous system reset. Here’s how therapy can help:
EMDR Therapy originally developed for PTSD, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) helps caregivers process the emotional residue of traumatic stories and memories they’ve absorbed. It allows your brain and body to integrate those experiences without continuing to relive them.
IFS Therapy (Internal Family Systems) helps you connect with the parts of yourself that may feel overwhelmed, shut down, or hyper-responsible. It allows caregivers to separate their own internal world from the emotional energy they carry for others.
Somatic Therapy works directly with the body to support regulation, release tension, and restore a sense of grounded presence. These methods are especially important when trauma lives below the surface of words.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and similar tools help build awareness of when you’re taking on too much and offer practices for returning to the present moment with compassion.
Narrative Therapy helps caregivers reshape their identity outside of their caregiving role. It encourages self-reflection and supports boundaries between your story and others’ trauma.
Psychoeducation & Peer Support is learning how vicarious trauma works and knowing you’re not alone, can be immensely validating. Many clients find that support groups and reflective supervision are powerful antidotes to isolation.
Signs You Might Be Carrying Vicarious Trauma
You feel emotionally exhausted or numb, even when not actively supporting others
You have intrusive thoughts or dreams related to others’ trauma
You dread work that used to feel meaningful
You feel disconnected from joy, rest, or purpose
You struggle to leave work at work, even mentally
If these feel familiar, you’re not broken. You’re absorbing more than any nervous system should have to carry alone.
Why Therapy Matters for Caregivers
Caregivers are often the ones others lean on. But that doesn't mean you're meant to hold it all alone. Therapy can:
Rebuild emotional boundaries without shutting down
Create space for your own experiences, grief, and healing
Support your nervous system in releasing chronic stress
Help you reconnect with purpose, clarity, and presence
At Tidal Trauma Centre, our trauma therapists in Surrey offer care that is collaborative, non-judgmental, and grounded in evidence-based modalities. We tailor our support to your role, your nervous system, and your real-life challenges.
You Don’t Have to Carry It Alone
Whether you're a caregiver on the edge of burnout or someone quietly wondering, "Is it supposed to feel this hard?", we’re here. Fill out a New Client Form to be matched with one or more trauma therapists. Or, if you're ready, book a free consult or appointment.
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Emotional numbness, intrusive thoughts, difficulty sleeping, low motivation, compassion fatigue, or a sense of hopelessness are all common. You may feel like your empathy is fading, even if you still care deeply.
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Yes. The nervous system doesn’t always distinguish between lived trauma and repeated exposure to others’ pain. Therapy helps you untangle what’s yours, process what you’ve absorbed, and restore boundaries, both emotionally and somatically.
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Absolutely. Many caregivers appreciate the convenience and accessibility of online therapy. Our team provides secure, trauma-informed virtual sessions across BC.
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Disclaimer: The content on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, or mental health advice. It is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.