The relationship between therapist differentiation of self and vicarious traumatization

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between Bowen’s Family Systems Theory (1978) concept of differentiation of self and therapist vicarious traumatization (Pearlman and Saakvitne, 1995). The results indicated a strong negative correlation between differentiation of self and vicarious traumatization. The more strongly differentiated the self of the therapist, the lower their level of vicarious traumatization. Due to the ubiquitous nature of trauma, it is expected that even therapists who consider themselves generalists will encounter detailed descriptions of their client’s traumatic experiences. Not all therapists will respond to this exposure with the same level of intensity. This study explored several therapist factors and their potential impact on the relationship between differentiation of self and vicarious traumatization. A mediation analysis was conducted with therapist personal therapy history, work experience, trauma-specific training, and satisfaction with professional support. Each of these factors were found to have significant correlations to both differentiation of self and vicarious traumatization. However, none of these variables significantly influenced (mediated) the relationship between differentiation of self and vicarious traumatization. Therapist personal history of trauma was examined as a potential moderating variable and the results found that while therapist personal trauma history is positively correlated with higher levels of vicarious traumatization, the level of personal trauma history did not moderate the relationship between differentiation of self and vicarious traumatization. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, as well as implications for future research.