PAAM online workshop examines 'Vicarious Trauma, Burnout' Jan. 25

The Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan’s Victim Services Training Unit will present the webinar “When You’ve Seen It All: Vicarious Trauma, Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Resilience” Thursday, January 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. via Zoom.

While prosecuting crimes is rewarding and meaningful work, many prosecutors experience challenges related to job stress and trauma exposure. Vicarious trauma is an occupational challenge for people working and volunteering in the fields of victim services, prosecution, law enforcement, and other allied professions, due to their continuous exposure to details of trauma and violence.

Exposure to the trauma of others has been shown to change the worldview of these professionals and can put individuals and organizations at risk for a range of negative consequences like burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue. The good news is that with proper awareness and support, professionals exposed to trauma can experience the positive aspects of this work including compassion satisfaction and vicarious resilience, which can help mitigate the effects of vicarious trauma and burnout.

This two-hour workshop will talk about what stress and trauma exposure do to brains, how to recognize when doing the work is starting to take a toll, how to get help, and practical considerations for employee well-being, worker retention, and promoting higher quality work outcomes by acknowledging and addressing vicarious trauma.

This workshop will include anonymous interactive polls, quizzes, and reflection questions using the online tool Mentimeter, which can be accessed using a cell phone or other device with a web browser. No downloads or profile required; simply enter a code you will be provided with during the training.

Dr. Apryl Pooley will be presenting on this topic at this training. Pooley is an expert trauma consultant and trainer who earned a PhD in Neuroscience from Michigan State University where she researched the effects of trauma on the brain. Pooley is currently the director of Training and Technical Assistance for the Michigan Victim Advocacy Network, where she coordinates and delivers trauma-informed training and networking opportunities for crime victim advocates across the state.

To register for the online workshop, visit https://michiganprosecutor.org and click on “Training Calendar.” After registration is approved, participants will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom access link.

Anyone with questions may contact Alex McGowan at McGowanA1@michigan.gov.

This training is supported by a Crime Victim Rights Award. This award was made to the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Victim Services.