Publication: The Impact of Exposure to Traumatic Narrative: The Lived Experience of Malaysian Counsellors
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Date
2023-11-30
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
USIM Press
Abstract
Attentively listening to the clients’ narratives and witnessing their suffering can be emotionally draining for counsellors. Counsellors may start adopting their clients’ thoughts and carrying their emotions, which can affect their belief systems. While the impact of counsellors being exposed to traumatic narratives has been extensively studied in Western countries, this psychological issue has received less attention in Malaysia. This study aims to describe Malaysian counsellors’ experiences with clients' traumatic narratives and the psychological impact of such encounters. Seven Malaysian experienced public service counsellors participated in this study. In-depth, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with them. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. The results revealed two main themes: the experience of traumatic narrative exposure and the psychological impact. Overall, the participants shared their experiences of working with traumatic cases that involved death and serious injuries to the victims. They also discussed both the positive and negative psychological impacts of these encounters on themselves. The counsellors emphasized that having the knowledge, skills, and supportive supervisors played crucial roles in helping them navigate these challenges. The study underscores the importance of equipping counsellors with specialized training and education on how to handle traumatic narrative exposures effectively, including the need for professional development programs that focus on psychological trauma care and strategies for maintaining counsellors’ mental well-being. These findings could also contribute to the development of policies and guidelines within the Malaysian counselling profession, offering extensive guidelines for self-care, setting limits on caseloads involving traumatic narratives, and defining best practices for managing such cases.
Description
E-Proceeding Islamic Science Social Postgraduate Conference 2023 (ISSPeC 2023) “The Tradition of Knowledge as a Catalyst for the Sustainability of Civilization”/ editors : Anita Binti Ismail, Farah Laili Binti Muda @ Ismail, Kamal Azmi Bin Abd Rahman, Afi Roshezry Bin Abu Bakar, Ikmal Hafiz Bin Jamal
Organized by: Institut Sains Islam (ISI) & Pusat Pengajian Teras (PPT)
30 November 2023
Keywords
traumatic narrative, Malaysian counsellor, psychological impact
Citation
Nur Husna Mohd. Hafiz , Mohd Zaliridzal Zakaria , Wan Mohd Fazrul Azdi Wan Razali , Nurhafizah Mohd Sukor , Marina Munira Abdul Mutalib , & Mohamed Fauzi Othman. (2023). The Impact of Exposure to Traumatic Narrative: The Lived Experience of Malaysian Counsellors. 53–61. https://ppt.usim.edu.my/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ISSPeC-2023-E-Proceeding-Final.pdf