Personal Reflection Paper

Personal Reflection Paper





Personal Reflection Paper
BSHS/345
Ty Little
Personal Reflection Paper
Invidious comparison and vicarious traumatization can happen to any human service worker at any time and without warning. Basically, when a human service worker becomes traumatized from hearing about the trauma a client has experienced it is considered vicarious traumatization. One can experience invidious comparison when they begin to discriminate against others because of their experiences, or in the story I’m about to tell lack thereof. As human service workers it is our responsibility to prevent this from happening so we can provide the most accurate and effective treatment. When feelings get involved, a human service worker can become biased. It will be discussed in this paper how to prevent this from happening.
Vicarious traumatization has happened to me in the past and even currently, sometimes. I play the role of counselor, at times, for my girlfriend. She has lived a very rough life and every time I hear a story from her past about the terrible things that happen to her, I tend to experience vicarious traumatization. I was talking to her a couple months ago when she shared a story about being raped by someone she considers a brother a few years ago. She explained, in detail, the horrific details of the situation. I became infuriated, at first, because this was a man that I have learned to call a friend myself. I was the first she ever told about it and was begged not to tell anyone or confront him. It brought up feelings of deep sadness for her. Part of her innocence was robbed from her. I compared myself to others and felt angry towards people that had it easier, especially me. I felt so much sympathy for her and her experiences that I was blinded for a time and did not know how to set down boundaries. I began to try and make her feel better, to no avail, which made me have feelings of despair. It was like I was feeling her pain. I thought about it for a while and it...

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