Managing Vicarious Trauma and Burnout: Strategies for Resilience and Well-being
Managing Vicarious Trauma and Burnout: Strategies for Resilience and Well-being
Are you a counsellor, frontline worker, case manager, educator, or healthcare provider supporting individuals affected by trauma, displacement, or adversity? Do you sometimes feel emotionally depleted, overwhelmed, or unsure how to maintain your wellbeing while holding space for others?
The Managing Vicarious Trauma and Burnout Workshop is an evidence-informed, reflective and skills-based training designed to equip you with practical strategies to recognise, prevent, and transform the impact of secondary trauma. Grounded in the latest research and neuroscience, this training helps you safeguard your own mental health, set professional boundaries, and sustain meaningful, values-based work — without burning out.
WHY THIS WORKSHOP MATTERS
Working with people who have experienced trauma can be deeply fulfilling — but also emotionally taxing. Exposure to others’ suffering, combined with high work demands and limited systemic resources, can lead to vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout. This workshop supports you to recognise early warning signs, understand the neurobiology of stress and empathy, and adopt sustainable practices that support personal, professional, and organisational resilience.
This workshop is essential for anyone working in trauma-exposed roles who wants to sustain their wellbeing, reconnect with their purpose, and continue supporting others with clarity, strength and compassion.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Understand Vicarious Trauma and Burnout
Recognise the signs, symptoms, and cumulative impacts of secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout — and how they differ.
Explore Neurobiology and Empathic Stress
Gain insight into mirror neurons, nervous system co-regulation, and why empathy can impact helpers on a physiological level.
Reflect on Transference, Boundaries and Self-Awareness
Learn how to notice and respond to transference and countertransference in your practice, and maintain safe, ethical boundaries.
Develop Personal and Professional Self-Care Strategies
Create a personalised, holistic self-care plan that enhances emotional resilience and meets your unique needs.
Understand Organisational Responsibility
Explore what trauma-informed workplaces look like and what systems, supervision and supports reduce risk and increase wellbeing.
Harness Post-Traumatic Growth and Reflective Practice
Shift your mindset and explore how vicarious trauma can also lead to deep meaning, growth, and positive transformation.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This workshop is ideal for:
- Counsellors, psychologists and therapists
- Youth workers, social workers, and caseworkers
- Educators and school wellbeing staff
- Settlement and refugee support workers
- Healthcare, admin and aged care staff
- Community leaders, volunteers and peer workers
- Anyone working in trauma-exposed environments