106 The Coaching Toolkit for Child Welfare Practice
Offer specific ways you can help the learner begin implementing
the standard. Be sure to commit to providing only those things
you are able and willing to do.
Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder
Secondary traumatic stress is defined as "natural consequent
behaviors resulting from knowledge about a traumatizing event
experienced by a significant other; it is the stress resulting from
wanting to help a traumatized or suffering person” (Figley 1995, p.
7). Traumatic stress disorder should not be confused with burnout;
burnout is emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion and is a
process that occurs gradually over time.Coaches in the child welfare
organization must understand the impacts of secondary traumatic
stress disorder so that they can (a) set appropriate boundaries and
(b) provide resources and referrals to appropriate services if
necessary.
Maintaining boundaries when dealing with STSD
In a formal coaching model, the coach is not the mentor, counselor,
or therapeutic coach although the lines between these roles can be
murky. Most critically, these roles operate under different
constraints and with different motivations from coaching. Therapy,
or counseling, is a practice delivered by a licensed clinical
practitioner or a therapeutic life coach, almost always separate from
the work setting.