Secondary Traumatic Stress 101 (Vicarious Trauma) (WMT-002)

Overview

Delivery method

Online Self-Paced

Duration

2 hours

Audience

Employees

Description

This course offers an introduction to secondary traumatic stress (STS) and empathic strain, specifically designed for professionals working in trauma-exposed, high-stress environments. Led by Françoise Mathieu, a registered psychotherapist with over 25 years of experience in trauma and crisis work, this on-demand course explores the impact of trauma exposure and offers strategies and tools to stay well. This course is suitable for anyone who works in a complex workplace including healthcare, law enforcement, social services, education, and many others.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this learning activity, participants will be able to:

• Define secondary traumatic stress (STS) and empathic strain.
• Understand the impact of trauma exposure in high-stress professions.
• Recognize warning signs of STS (physical, behavioral, emotional).
• Identify contributing factors to work-related stress.
• Apply self-regulation strategies to manage stress.
• Use practical tools to reduce trauma exposure and prevent burnout.

Content Advisory

This e-learning module addresses compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and secondary trauma, including reflections on the emotional impacts that can arise when supporting others through difficult situations. We acknowledge that this material may evoke diverse personal responses and that each individual’s experience is unique.

Participants are encouraged to take breaks as needed throughout the module and prioritize their well-being. We also recommend debriefing with managers or trusted colleagues as needed, and to contact the Employee Assistance Program at 1-800-268-7708 or via EAP Chat Services for additional support and resources.

Presented by: The Centre for Workplace Access-Ability, Health and Wellness in collaboration with the Centre of Expertise for Learning and Professional Development (CoELPD).

Cancelling your registration: Simply log into your JUScampus account and select "Unregister" from this event page.

Accommodation Measures: The Department of Justice is committed to an inclusive, barrier-free learning environment. If you need workplace accommodations to fully participate in this training, contact your manager or the Centre for Workplace Access-Ability, Health and Wellness (CWAHW). Please note, the CWAHW requires at least 72 hours to respond.

Please contact the Centre of Expertise for Learning and Professional Development (CoELPD):

• To flag any requests or accommodations needs, at least 10 business days before starting the training session.
• For more information or if you have any issues with this course.

Accreditation by Law Societies:

For information about the continuing professional development (CPD) hours for this course, please consult the 2026 Accreditation Summary.

Click here for the 2025 Accreditation Summary.

If you have questions concerning the accreditation process, please contact our accreditation team by email (Accreditations@justice.gc.ca).