Date

8-19-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Human Services: Emphasis in Forensic Behavioral Health

Department

Human Services

Abstract

It is known that human service practitioners are often expected to maintain empathy, compassion, emotional regulation, and professionalism during high-stress or uncertain situations. These experiences expose practitioners to a unique intersection of trauma. While helping others through their own trauma, practitioners may also experience symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, emotional exhaustion, sleep disturbances, hypervigilance, and avoidance despite not directly experiencing the traumatic events themselves. Current literature highlights these existing occupational risks that may hinder sustained career development, increased compassion fatigue, and affect workplace standards and support. With things like frequent increase in workloads, workforce shortages, and insufficient professional support, practitioners commonly experience chronic workplace stress. As research continues, the implementation of organizational approaches shows reduction in negative outcomes and supports long-term occupational satisfaction that can go beyond the individual. This comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases, including PubMed and APA PsycINFO, focusing on research published within the last eight years to illustrate the relationship between the occupational risks that impact human service professionals. Indicating that proactive measures should go beyond individual-level, and requires organizational-level efforts. Effective prevention strategies include trauma-informed supervision, manageable caseloads, peer support, and workplace standard acknowledgment of secondary trauma and its impact.

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