‘If I’m not real, I’m not having an impact’: relationality and vicarious resistance in complex trauma care

Delanie Woodlock; Michael Salter; Elizabeth Conroy; Jackie Burke; Molly Dragiewicz

doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcac054

‘If I’m not real, I’m not having an impact’: relationality and vicarious resistance in complex trauma care

Delanie Woodlock
, Michael Salter
, Elizabeth Conroy
, Jackie Burke
, Molly Dragiewicz

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

There is growing commitment to trauma-informed practice and increased recognition of risks associated with this work. However, the benefits of working with trauma-affected clients are under-studied. Drawing on interviews with sixty-three welfare, health and legal professionals in Australia, we consider the salutogenic dynamics of work with women with experiences of complex trauma. Participants articulated an ethics of care in which professionals ally with clients against abuse and violence as well as transactional neoliberal service models. We identify this approach to trauma work as a form of vicarious resistance that challenges dichotomies of vicarious trauma and resilience.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	4401-4417
Number of pages	17
Journal	The British Journal of Social Work
Volume	52
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcac054
Publication status	Published - Oct 2022
Externally published	Yes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

complex trauma
neoliberalism
resistance
vicarious trauma
vicarious resilience

Access to Document

10.1093/bjsw/bcac054

Cite this

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AU - Salter, Michael

AU - Conroy, Elizabeth

AU - Burke, Jackie

AU - Dragiewicz, Molly

N1 - Funding Information: This study was funded by Australian’s National Research Office for Women’s Safety. Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2022.

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AB - There is growing commitment to trauma-informed practice and increased recognition of risks associated with this work. However, the benefits of working with trauma-affected clients are under-studied. Drawing on interviews with sixty-three welfare, health and legal professionals in Australia, we consider the salutogenic dynamics of work with women with experiences of complex trauma. Participants articulated an ethics of care in which professionals ally with clients against abuse and violence as well as transactional neoliberal service models. We identify this approach to trauma work as a form of vicarious resistance that challenges dichotomies of vicarious trauma and resilience.

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KW - neoliberalism

KW - resistance

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KW - vicarious resilience

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M3 - Article

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VL - 52

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JO - The British Journal of Social Work

JF - The British Journal of Social Work

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ER -

‘If I’m not real, I’m not having an impact’: relationality and vicarious resistance in complex trauma care

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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