The study was conducted utilizing heuristic research methods, specifically
Moustakas’ six phases of heuristic inquiry. The findings were based on in-depth
interviews with nine clinical psychology graduate students; seven females and
two males; ranging in age from 25-31. All participants were enrolled at various
psychology programs in the San Francisco Bay Area and identified as Caucasian,
with one participant specifying Caucasian/Greek and another Caucasian/Jewish.
iv
Using qualitative data analysis, themes emerged that described the
experience of vicarious traumatization among clinical psychology graduate
students: (a) Physical impacts; (b) Emotional impacts; (c) Relationship impacts.
Themes related to cognitive schemas included (a) Trauma work changed me, and
(b) Working with trauma survivors made the impact and prevalence of trauma
more real. Lastly, two themes arose in relation to clinical psychology graduate
students’ coping methods: (a) Personal therapy and (b) Avoidance. Participant
suggestions for what graduate programs and clinical supervisors can do to lessen
the impact of vicarious trauma are also provided.