Exploring the impact of traumatic stories on support workers in domestic violence shelters

This qualitative study explored the impact of women’s traumatic stories on support workers in domestic violence shelters. The research design employed a grounded theory methodology based on a constructivist approach outlined by Charmaz (2006). Data collection entailed a series of open-ended interviews with a sample of nine support workers employed in transition houses in the lower mainland of British Columbia. As characteristic of grounded theory methods, I used the constant comparative method throughout three phases of analysis until all categories of data indicated theoretical sufficiency. The findings contributed to an interpretative theory that provides an in-depth description of how support workers process their reactions to traumatic material. In this model, I suggest that their context, circumstances, actions and interactions mitigate the effects of this trauma exposure. Finally, I address the implications for counsellors and transition house policy, hereby offering a voice to the underrepresented population of domestic violence support workers.