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Vicarious posttraumatic growth among interpreters

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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  • Kate Splevins
  • Keren Cohen
  • Stephen Joseph
  • Craig Murray
  • Jake Bowley
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>12/2010
<mark>Journal</mark>Qualitative Health Research
Issue number12
Volume20
Number of pages12
Pages (from-to)1705-1716
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

An emerging evidence base indicates that posttraumatic growth might be experienced vicariously by those working alongside trauma survivors. In this study we explored the vicarious experiences of eight interpreters working in a therapeutic setting with asylum seekers and refugees. We adopted a qualitative approach, using semistructured interviews and interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four interrelated themes emerged from the findings: feeling what your client feels, beyond belief, finding your own way to deal with it, and a different person. Although all participants experienced distress, they also perceived themselves to have grown in some way. The implications for a theory of vicarious posttraumatic growth are discussed, along with clinical applications.