Abuse Quote by Ved P. Varma
““Hearing directly from a person who has been hurt in a profound way gives the listener a secondary trauma. When a Swedish colleague, Anders Svensson, asked me to offer support and supervision (Sinason and Svensson 1994) it was because his patient, a severely learning-disabled patient, claimed she had been raped. As the therapy proceeded she began to provide details of rape, sadomasochistic activities, necrophilia, pornographic films, bestiality and, finally, the murder of a child. The police were called in and she was given extra security. Week by week a more harrowing tale evolved of night-time rituals, of men in masks, the drinking of blood and eating of faeces. It took me over eight months to find the term ‘ritual abuse’.””
About This Quote
Source Journal Article: Clinical Psychology Review, 1994
Secondary trauma can arise when therapists hear graphic, disturbing client disclosures, leading to emotional distress.
In simple terms: Listening to traumatic stories can cause therapist trauma.
Key Takeaway
Practice self‑care and supervision.
Themes
trauma
professional boundaries
ethics
Mood
cautious
serious
Type
clinical
educational
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- support groups
- training workshops
Key Concepts
secondary trauma
vicarious trauma
clinical supervision
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize signs of secondary trauma?
- What coping strategies help maintain emotional health?
A Different Perspective
Therapists may become desensitized, reducing empathy.
