Don’t Tell Me to Just Do Self Care -Trauma-Informed Approaches Addressing Secondary Traumatic Stress

Sooner or later, most of us have experienced what burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS) feel like. These are not signs of personal weakness or professional inadequacy. Rather, they are understandable occupational responses to working in a world marked by unprecedented challenges, including armed conflicts, climate-related disasters, and the lingering effects of a global pandemic. For professionals serving children and families affected by trauma, daily exposure to stories of grief, loss, violence, abuse, and adversity is often part of the work. Combined with the growing youth mental health crisis, increasing service demands, workforce shortages, limited resources, and demanding workplace conditions, it is not surprising that more than 70% of child trauma professionals report moderate to high levels of burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Importantly, the session will move beyond the traditional focus on individual self-care and explore how organizations can play a critical role in promoting workforce well-being and sustainability. Dr. Zlatina Kostova will provide an overview of STS and burnout, explore their physiological and psychological impacts, and share concrete tools for recognizing, managing, and mitigating these occupational hazards. Participants will also have opportunities for interactive discussion, reflection, and experiential well-being practices that can be applied at both the individual and organizational levels. The goal of this webinar is to deepen participants’ understanding of Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) and burnout while offering practical, trauma-informed strategies to support the well-being of professionals working with children across diverse settings