What patients can expect during the first session with me is as follows: the first step is for us to gain better insight into the “What needs to be healed?” and the “How to heal?” roadmap. We will discover what we need to work towards and how we can work towards these goals. We will then create the foundations of our therapeutic relationship by gaining a sense of the therapeutic journey and the directions we need to go towards the patient’s healing journey.

Those in roles such as therapists, social workers, first responders, healthcare providers, and humanitarian workers are at higher risk. Anyone regularly engaging with others' traumatic experiences, especially in high-stress environments, can be affected.

Common signs include emotional exhaustion, irritability, difficulty concentrating, feelings of helplessness, changes in worldview, reduced empathy, sleep disturbances, and physical symptoms like fatigue or headaches. Over time, it can lead to burnout or secondary traumatic stress.

While all involve stress, vicarious trauma stems from exposure to others' trauma, leading to changes in emotional responses and worldview. Burnout is related to chronic workplace stress and feelings of being overwhelmed or ineffective. PTSD, on the other hand, develops from direct or personal exposure to a traumatic event and includes symptoms like flashbacks and severe anxiety. Though they can overlap, the causes and manifestations differ.

Strategies include maintaining healthy boundaries, practicing self-care, seeking peer or professional support, engaging in regular supervision or debriefing sessions, and building resilience through mindfulness and stress-management techniques. Organizations can also play a role by fostering supportive environments and providing mental health resources.