Research and Development The Trident Foundation provides opportunities through distance technologies for mental health, justice and law related professionals including counsellors; social workers; psychologists; nurses and psychiatrists; lawyers and law enforcement; mediators; information technologists; educators and trainers to develop interdisciplinary teamwork to the benefit of clients and the public. This teamwork helps to inform research and development associated with the disciplines of mental health, justice, education and training. Professionals have an ethical duty to support each other to become more knowledgeable about the laws and their implications for practice, policy and development. The Director of the Trident Foundation is completing her PhD study on the vicarious traumatization of professionals who are involved with domestic violence situations in justice systems. An abstract of the study appears below.

Abstract: Experiences of Professionals in Justice Systems who are Involved with Domestic Violence Situations by the Director (BSW, MSW, MDED, Master [Social Policy], PhD [Cand]) Professionals are not immune from the process of vicarious traumatization as they can experience a range of traumatizing experiences due to their involvement with crisis related situations such as domestic violence. Consequently, professionals need to be supported so that they can assist all stakeholders, but especially those in justice systems, to gain access to justice and to maintain mental health. Stakeholders may include clients, professionals, employers, the not for profit, corporate and government sectors, academics and the public. This thesis is a qualitative study about the experiences of professionals who work with domestic violence situations in justice systems. In it the application of distance technologies to develop therapeutic, legal and educational support for professionals, offenders, victims and the public are examined as professional and other stakeholders may be temporally and/or geographically isolated and thus unable to access needed legal and educational assistance other than through virtual processes. The life situations, knowledge and understanding of eighteen participants are investigated in this thesis as the research focuses on how professionals in justice systems comprehend and mark their involvement with the areas of vicarious traumatization and domestic violence. Eighteen participants from Canada, the USA, Australia and New Zealand are represented in this study. The disciplines that are represented include counselling, psychology, social work, nursing, law, law enforcement and education. Professionals from four countries were able to participate in this study due to the application of distance technologies to connect them with the researcher. The methods that were applied in this study included two telephone based individual interviews and a thirty-item questionnaire administered to participants, all followed by a thematic analysis of the data gathered during this inquiry. The study demonstrates the impact of gender and culture upon professional practices in justice systems. As well it shows that at times professionals may feel at risk and perceive themselves as being ineffective due to a lack of resources. They may fear the consequences if they admit to themselves and others that they are experiencing trauma as a result of their involvement with justice systems. This loss of hope may undermine the quality of their practice with clients. Participants described their experiences and challenges and provided suggestions about solutions that could assist them and others to prevent and reduce vicarious traumatization in dealing with domestic violence. Many of the participants indicated that challenges associated with justice systems included a lack of resources, such as training and education about vicarious traumatization and domestic violence. Other challenges that were identified in work within justice systems included - emotional and professional isolation a lack of support from employers inadequate legal knowledge and cultural and social discourses about the infallibility of professionals. Solutions that emerged in the study included - self-care supervision personal and social development. virtual tutoring and student support systems associated with legal education employee family assistance programs. Virtual support systems may include online counselling, mediation and/or supervision. Next Service: Counselling Previous Service: Mediation   THE TRIDENT FFOUNDATION P.O.Box 8148 Canmore, Alberta T1W 2T9 Canada Phone: 403-678-2918 Fax: 636-216-0941