Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
There’s a term that refers to what can happen to us when we have a front row seat to someone’s trauma, whether we are watching a car accident unfold in slow motion in front of us, or if we are listening to someone recount a truly horrendous experience. It’s called vicarious trauma.
The interpreters who work in the Deaf community are vulnerable to vicarious trauma. Not only do they witness our most personal situations with hearing people, but they are also expected to hold in any emotional reactions while doing their job.
Thank you, Tiffany, for this clear description of how vicarious trauma impacts interpreters and how they, and anyone who experiences vicarious trauma, can manage it.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COUNSELING AND THERAPY SERVICES: deafcounseling.com
Est. 2001. Deaf Women Owned. Over 25 years in business. 35+ years of Experience. Deaf Counseling Center provides both online (videophone, web-based, online, and virtual, e-therapy, telemental health) and in-office therapy to Deaf clients on a national basis.
Board-certified Telemental Health (BC-TMH). HIPAA Compliant. 100% Private. Inbox us for more information.
______________________
.
.
.
Start today! deafcounseling.com @deafcounseling #deafcounseling
.
Disclaimer: This space is for education and reflection, not a replacement for therapy or professional care. You may want to consider diagnosis and treatment of your symptoms with a licensed professional counselor. Feel free to contact us to be connected to one of our therapists.
NOTE: We use the word “Deaf” as an INCLUSIVE term for all Deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind, DeafPlus, late-deafened, oral Deaf, ASL users, CI users, and other identities.
© 2026 Deaf Counseling Center. All rights reserved. You must credit Deaf Counseling Center when sharing or using this content.
There’s a term that refers to what can happen to us when we have a front row seat to someone’s trauma, whether we are watching a car accident unfold in slow motion in front of us, or if we are listening to someone recount a truly horrendous experience. It’s called vicarious trauma.
The interpreters who work in the Deaf community are vulnerable to vicarious trauma. Not only do they witness our most personal situations with hearing people, but they are also expected to hold in any emotional reactions while doing their job.
Thank you, Tiffany, for this clear description of how vicarious trauma impacts interpreters and how they, and anyone who experiences vicarious trauma, can manage it.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COUNSELING AND THERAPY SERVICES: deafcounseling.com
Est. 2001. Deaf Women Owned. Over 25 years in business. 35+ years of Experience. Deaf Counseling Center provides both online (videophone, web-based, online, and virtual, e-therapy, telemental health) and in-office therapy to Deaf clients on a national basis.
Board-certified Telemental Health (BC-TMH). HIPAA Compliant. 100% Private. Inbox us for more information.
______________________
.
.
.
Start today! deafcounseling.com @deafcounseling #deafcounseling
.
Disclaimer: This space is for education and reflection, not a replacement for therapy or professional care. You may want to consider diagnosis and treatment of your symptoms with a licensed professional counselor. Feel free to contact us to be connected to one of our therapists.
NOTE: We use the word “Deaf” as an INCLUSIVE term for all Deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind, DeafPlus, late-deafened, oral Deaf, ASL users, CI users, and other identities.
© 2026 Deaf Counseling Center. All rights reserved. You must credit Deaf Counseling Center when sharing or using this content.
