An exploration of senior therapists’ experience of working with complex trauma in Ireland: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Year: 2025
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Complex trauma can result from multiple, cumulative and prolonged experiences of psychological injury from events such as childhood abuse and/or neglect, which lead to difficulties along several developmental trajectories. The publication of the SAVI report (Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland) and inquiries into Ireland’s history of institutional abuses have contributed to the emergence of several specialist trauma services and private practitioners working with complex trauma presentations. Despite the growth within Ireland of this specialised therapeutic area, little is known about the experience of therapists working with this clinical population. This study explores the lived experiences of therapists, who have long term experience of working with complex trauma in Ireland, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Through interviews with nine experienced trauma therapists, three core experiential themes were identified. Firstly, the vicarious impacts: “you feel like it's in your bones” reflects the profound embodied impacts of trauma practice. The second theme, being pushed: “it's continuously challenging” illuminates the ongoing professional and personal demands of working with complex trauma. Lastly, feeling driven: “this kind of work is so addictive” explores both the light and shadowed motivations of trauma work, along with its inherent growth processes. The findings reveal the vicarious costs of trauma work manifest at a primarily embodied level, particularly for women, while emotional resilience appears to increase with experience. The study also elucidates the process of adapting to the specialized aspects of trauma work, the challenges related to professional boundaries, the issue of professional isolation (particularly in private practice), and the difficulty in obtaining trauma-informed supervision within Ireland. The findings are discussed in light of the relevant previous research on trauma work. Recommendations and implications for clinical practice, supervision and training are detailed.
Author: Meehan, Gerard
Language: English
Subfield: Public Administration
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7111441149