First Advisor

Tian, Lu

Document Type

Dissertation

Date Created

8-2023

Department

College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Applied Psychology and Counselor Education, APCE Student Work

Abstract

Vicarious traumatization (VT) in the context of early career mental health professionals (MHPs) with personal trauma histories has been examined in the literature on a limited basis, particularly regarding the role that supervisory working alliance and shame could contribute to the effects of VT. Research questions asked: (a) Among early career MHPs who have a personal childhood trauma history, does shame mediate the relationship between personal childhood trauma history and VT? and (b) Among early career MHPs who have a personal childhood trauma history, does supervisory working alliance moderate the relationship between personal childhood trauma history and VT? These questions were answered using a sample of early career MHPs who were within 10 years of their graduation from a counseling masters or doctoral program. Participants completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire as an initial screening measure assessing for the presence of childhood trauma. Fifty-nine (59) participants completed the Early Trauma Inventory Self Report-Short Form (ETI-SR-SF), the Trauma and Attachment Belief Scale (TABS), the External and Internal Shame Scale (EISS), the Supervisory Working Alliance Inventory-Supervisee Form (SWAI-SF), and the demographics questionnaire. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the data and both moderation and mediation analyses were conducted using PROCESS Macro. Results showed that early career MHPs who had increased severity of personal childhood trauma were also experiencing increased levels of VT. Results showed that shame was significant as a mediator between personal childhood trauma and VT. The supervisory working alliance did not appear significant as a moderator between personal childhood trauma and VT. This study aimed to understand the antecedents that impacted the severity and presence of VT symptoms and experiences in early career MHPs.

Extent

244 pages

Local Identifiers

Barthelemy_unco_0161D_11156.pdf

Rights Statement

Copyright is held by the author.

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