What About Us? Vicarious Trauma in our “Systems”

Author

Suzanne Spencer, Lynn University

Date of Award

9-2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Granting Institution

Lynn University

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EDD)

Degree Program

Educational Leadership

Department

College of Education

First Advisor

Jennifer Lesh

Second Advisor

Kathleen Weigel

Third Advisor

Kelly Burlison

Abstract

This narrative design investigates the phenomenon of vicarious trauma in a teacher’s system. Vicarious trauma is a silent phenomenon that can occur through the secondary witnessing of the traumatic experiences of others. This narrative design will describe how and what teachers experience through chronic and cumulative exposure to the adverse childhood experiences of their students. This research will narrate the lived experience of a teacher with vicarious trauma and the impact of vicarious trauma on a teacher’s belief system.

Recommended Citation

Spencer, S. (2019). What About Us? Vicarious Trauma in our “Systems” [Doctoral dissertation, Lynn University]. SPIRAL. https://spiral.lynn.edu/etds/353