SELF-CARE & SECONDARY TRAUMA FOR EDUCATORS

Coping with the effects of others’ trauma can be draining and can have lasting adverse effects. It is not uncommon for educators who deal with traumatized children to develop personal symptoms of traumatic stress, commonly referred to as secondary traumatic stress. To best serve students and maintain their health, educators must be alert to the signs of secondary traumatic stress in themselves and their coworkers. In a trauma-informed school, staff should be encouraged to practice self-care along with other strategies to guard against or heal from the effects of secondary traumatic stress.