Secondary Victimization: Hurt by Others; Hurt by Self...How to Help
Program Description
This program will explore secondary wounding and its effects on trauma recovery.
Secondary wounding can often be more painful than the actual event itself, and can create
many complex issues for a victim as they undergo trauma care. Participants will learn a
deeper working definition of secondary wounding, how it shows up in the therapy room
for children and adults, and explore the very sensitive area of Self-Secondary Wounding.
The presenter will examine the effects of this on trauma recovery and resilience, and
outline specific adjunct compassionate treatment options and interventions that integrate
fully into the TLC Trauma Intervention Programs. This program will demonstrate how
secondary wounding is cross-cultural, as well as the impact various interventions
methods on different cultural groups. This trauma-informed program is directly relevant
to clinical care and mental health, and it offers information, interventions, and practical
applications for immediate use in therapy.
Program Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:
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Establish and define a working model of Secondary Victimization and identify its
impact on trauma recovery;
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Explain the impact of Self-Secondary Wounding both in children and adults;
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Identify several trauma-informed treatment options for addressing secondary
wounding for children and adults.
Target Audience
This workshop will be highly beneficial to all mental health practitioners who work with
individuals with a history of trauma. This includes clinical social workers, psychologists,
counselors, psychiatric providers and substance abuse professionals.
Contact Hours
6.0 hours
Program Agenda
9:00 - 10:30 AM
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What is Secondary Wounding?
How does it differ from Secondary Victimization?
What does it look like in the therapy room for all ages? What does it look like in
real life?
What are the complications of Secondary Wounding?
How does it impact trauma healing?
Introduction of Assessment Tools
Discussion and Examples
10:30 - 10:45 AM
Break
10:45 - 12 Noon
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What are some options for addressing Secondary Wounding across multiple
settings?
Clinical Interventions and Experiential Examples
Mindfulness and Mindful Self-Compassion Tools
1:00 - 2:00 PM Lunch
2 PM - 3:30 PM
• What is SELF-Secondary Wounding?
• How is it different from SW?
• What does it look like at home, community, therapy room?
• What are the complications and risks associated with Self-Secondary Wounding?
• Introduction of Mindful Self-Compassion Scales
• Clinical Interventions and Experiential Examples
3:30 - 3:45 PM
Break
3:45 - 5:00 PM
• Experiential and Group Application of learning topics within the context of
Trauma Stewardship and Community Support
5:00 PM Adjourn
Faculty
Cherie L. Spehar, MSW, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Facilitator,
Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, and Certified Trauma Consultant-Supervisor in
Apex, NC. A clinician since 1994, she has dedicated her life to the well-being and
healing of children, women and families. With her extensive clinical background, her
professional path has found her in longstanding roles such as Executive Director of The
Child Abuse Prevention Center in Raleigh, North Carolina and Training Coordinator and
Developer with the North Carolina State University Social Work Department. Ms. Spehar
can be found at her private practice center, Smiling Spirit Pathways, where she has
developed a haven for consultation, training, child and family therapy, and trauma
services. There, she also develops children’s groups, facilitates workshops related to
resiliency, “trauma parenting”, and women’s wellness and serves as a field instructor for
UNC-CH, School of Social Work. Ms. Spehar is a Certified Trauma ConsultantSupervisor with The National Center for Trauma and Loss in Children (TLC) and has
served hundreds of children and adults with TLC Programs. Additionally, she has
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pioneered efforts in her local and statewide school system to bring Trauma-Informed
approaches into the educational setting and provides regular consultation to community
agencies on Trauma-Informed Care. Ms. Spehar also provides presentations, Keynotes,
and trainings locally and nationally on working with traumatized children and adults. She
further specializes in Therapeutic Writing interventions and holds a Certificate of
Advanced Study in this expressive therapy field. She has recently developed a Trauma
Mentorship Program in which she accepts beginner and advanced candidates for
intensive study in the use of trauma-informed interventions and approaches.
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