Event countertransference and vicarious traumatization: Theoretically valid and clinically useful concepts?

Abstract

The event countertransference and vicarious traumatization concepts have been introduced in the 1990s to describe the adverse emotional impacts that working with severely traumatized patients may have for the helping professional. These concepts are increasingly popular among trauma therapists. The present paper critically discusses the empirical evidence, theoretical validity and clinical utility of both concepts. Vulnerable trauma therapists may too eagerly embrace the event countertransference and vicarious traumatization perspectives as a cover up for their own failures. Interpersonal communication theory is suggested as a more useful conceptual framework for the analysis of countertransference reactions in therapies with severely traumatized patients.