'It's like wading through mud. But pink, glittery, gorgeous smelling mud': An Exploration of Domestic Abuse Advocates' Experiences of Vicarious Trauma

This study worked with Domestic Abuse Advocates (DAAs) who provide support to victim-survivors. It explored the impacts of their role through the lenses of vicarious trauma (VT) and vicarious resilience (VR); examining how DAAs cope with and manage these effects, as well as considering the individual and organisational factors which influence their experiences. The adoption of creative methods and a Participatory Action Research approach enabled participants to lead conversations and share their subjective understandings of VT and VR. A multi-stage design was implemented. The initial interview with the option of creative activities focussed on DAAs experiences. The second interview, six months later, offered participants the opportunity to consider the initial findings and to extend their earlier accounts. 13 DAAs from Welsh Domestic Abuse Services participated. Seven used the creative sandboxing technique while the remainder chose a standard, semi-structured interview. 11 of these participants also engaged with the second stage interview. Data was analysed thematically.
Participants shared negative effects consistent with VT, including disruptions in their schema related to intimacy, safety and trust, and discussed resulting changes to their behaviours and physical and mental wellbeing. However, participants also shared positive effects consistent with VR, with some noting how these positive and negative effects are interlinked. Participants documented their coping strategies for the effects of VT, including fostering relationships with colleagues and friends and family, maintaining separation and boundaries, exercise and keeping perspective. Positive effects were also heightened through exposure to success stories, contributing to VR. Organisational and individual factors influenced participants' accounts, including organisational support and access to external clinical supervision, everyday experiences as a DAA, and their own previous experience(s) of abuse.
The thesis contributes to an understanding VT and VR for DAAs and makes recommendations for future research and practice, which could potentially improve the wellbeing of DAAs.