A Qualitative Study on Vicarious Trauma Experiences of Art Therapists

This study aims to explore in depth the experiences of vicarious trauma among art therapists. Seven art therapists with over one year of clinical experience who had experienced vicarious trauma participated in one-on-one in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis, yielding five overarching themes and eleven subthemes. The overarching themes were: (1) traumatic experiences transferred to the therapist’s body and mind, (2) therapeutic interventions shaken by emotional impact, (3) unawareness of vicarious trauma despite confronting trauma, (4) recognition of vicarious trauma through sensory identification, and (5) possibility of recovery through acceptance and reflection. Art therapists experience vicarious trauma by engaging with clients’ psychological trauma and artwork, and encounter professional limitations as a result. However, by reflecting on their experiences, they address confusion between their therapeutic role and personal identity, and begin to seek recovery. This study highlights how therapists come to grow by using vicarious trauma as a resource within both clinical and personal contexts.