Scholars@Duke publication: Effectiveness of a Workforce Stress Intervention Among Providers of Evidence-Based Treatment for Child Traumatic Stress

Effectiveness of a Workforce Stress Intervention Among Providers of Evidence-Based Treatment for Child Traumatic Stress

Publication , Journal Article

Murray, KJ; Miller, BC; Lim, R; Sullivan, KM; Blythe, MO

Published in: Traumatology

January 1, 2025

Despite thewell-established risk of secondary traumatic stress and other forms of workforce stress for mental health clinicians providing trauma treatment, there is little research to support interventions to mitigate this stress. The current study is a preliminary evaluation of the intervention Components for Enhancing Clinician Engagement and Reducing Trauma (Miller, 2022). Participants in the intervention (n=60) were recruited from a training project in one state for agencies providing evidence-based treatment for child traumatic stress. Participants showed significant reductions between preintervention and 6-month follow-up in secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and four of the five intervention targets. There were no changes in compassion satisfaction and one target of the intervention. Qualitative evaluation data were also reviewed, which highlighted an overall positive response to the training, the usefulness of the components, and areas for future growth. Overall, the results of the current study, while limited, support the effectiveness of the Components for Enhancing Clinician Engagement and Reducing Trauma intervention in mitigating workforce stress for mental health providers.