Secondary trauma and ethical obligations for military psychologists: preserving compassion and competence in the crucible of combat

• Published in: Psychological services Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 68
• Main Authors: Johnson, W Brad, Bertschinger, Michael, Snell, Alicia K, Wilson, Amber
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2014
• Subjects: Attitude of Health Personnel; Clinical Competence; Codes of Ethics; Empathy; Fatigue - psychology; Humans; Military Personnel - psychology; Physician Impairment; Psychology, Military - ethics; Self Care - methods; Self-Assessment; Social Responsibility; Social Support; Stress Disorders, Traumatic - etiology; Stress Disorders, Traumatic - psychology; Wounds and Injuries - psychology; Wounds and Injuries - therapy

Current ethical guidelines require psychologists to self-assess competence and take steps to limit or discontinue clinical work when they can no longer render competent care. Yet even in the best of circumstances, human beings--psychologists included--are not very good at evaluating their own perfor...