This video, When Helping Hurts: Sustaining Trauma Workers, was produced for trauma workers, international relief workers and those exposed to trauma due to their professions or volunteer work.

It outlines the symptoms of Secondary Traumatization and Compassion Fatigue and what organizations and supervisors can do to prevent or reduce its effects on trauma workers. Noted therapists discuss ways of recognizing these conditions in yourself and others, plus the means of treatment and prevention.

The following areas are covered in this video:

• Definitions And Effects: compassion fatigue, compassion stress, secondary traumatization, burn-out, counter transference, work-related stressors.
• Symptoms: professional, physical, emotional, psychological, interpersonal, behavioral, spiritual.
• Vulnerability: Who's vulnerable and why?
• Examples Of Compassion Fatique Recovery, Prevention And Coping Techniques: organizational prevention techniques, self-care, peer support.

The six therapists featured are: Charles R. Figley, Ph. D.; Frank Ochberg, M.D.; Angie Panos, Ph. D., CEAP; John Wilson, Ph. D.; Mary Beth Williams, Ph. D.; Atle Dyregrov, Ph. D.

Also featured is a San Francisco firefighter who was seriously injured in a fire that took the life of a colleague. All participants donated their time.