Date of Award

10-11-2021

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Jeffrey Brown, Ph.D., L.P.

Second Advisor

Margit Berman, Ph.D., L.P.

Third Advisor

Jim Theisen, Ph.D., L.P.

Abstract

There is limited research on vicarious trauma among therapists who treat sexual offenders and who have a personal history of sexual abuse (Cunningham, 2003). The purpose of this study is to identify how a personal history of sexual abuse, and specific characteristics of the sexual abuse therapists have experienced, may influence the experience of vicarious trauma among therapists who work with sex offenders. The study surveyed clinicians who work with sex offenders in order to examine the relationship between their experiences of sexual abuse and vicarious trauma. The survey included a demographic questionnaire, the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS), and a personal history questionnaire, to explore the relationships among specific sexual abuse histories and the presence and severity of vicarious trauma. The findings add to the existing research on the prevalence of sexual abuse among therapists who work with sex offenders, as well as sexual abuse characteristics related to the presence and development of vicarious trauma. These results helped provide information and supportive services to therapists who work with sex offenders, with the goal to alleviate some of the detrimental effects associated with vicarious trauma.

Identifier

SC 11.PSYD.2021.Wikelius.D

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