Find a Mental Health Professional for Vicarious Trauma, Moral Injury & Dissociation

About Vicarious Trauma, Moral Injury & Dissociation support

Vicarious trauma occurs when repeated exposure to others' traumatic experiences, often as part of a caring or professional role, gradually shifts a person's own worldview, sense of safety, and emotional wellbeing. It is common among mental health workers, first responders, lawyers, journalists, healthcare workers, and others who regularly witness suffering. Moral injury refers to the deep distress that arises when a person acts in ways that conflict with their values, or witnesses others doing so, often in high-stakes environments. Dissociation involves a disconnection from thoughts, feelings, surroundings, or sense of identity, and can occur as a response to overwhelming stress or trauma. These experiences are not signs of professional failure. They reflect the human cost of caring work done in difficult conditions. Recovery involves understanding what is happening and why, building in genuine recovery practices, addressing any underlying trauma, and reconnecting with a sense of meaning and personal values. Therapy approaches including trauma-informed CBT, EMDR, compassion-focused therapy, and somatic work can all be helpful. In Australia, employee assistance programs (EAPs) are often available through employers in high-stress sectors. Private practitioners with experience in occupational trauma can provide more in-depth support. The Black Dog Institute and Phoenix Australia offer resources specifically designed for people in high-risk professions, and supervision practices in healthcare and community services increasingly include vicarious trauma awareness.