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Abstract

Hazardous" is not an adjective that comes to mind when describing children's advocacy centers. The reality, however, is that those who work within these organizations, such as forensic interviewing professionals, often experience symptomology similar to those who receive services [1,2]. Data was collected utilizing an emergent, phenomenological design to better understand the context within which forensic interviewers experience, and are impacted by secondary trauma. A purposeful, representative sample (n=9) of forensic interviewing professionals participated in semi-structured interviews regarding their perceptions of vicarious trauma as it relates to their job as forensic interviewers. Analysis of the data was rooted in constructivist grounded theory [3]. Findings of this study point to the importance of considering the impact of organizational context and systems on how forensic interviewers' are impacted by vicarious trauma.