Psychiatric Times defines secondary trauma as “indirect exposure to trauma through a firsthand account or narrative of a traumatic event.” Participating in the Dry Bones community can lead to secondary trauma because it exposes you to the traumatic stories and realities of our friends experiencing houselessness. To learn more about what secondary trauma is and how to respond to it, check out the resources below.
(source: Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky and Connie Burk)
Whether we realize it or not, hearing about or witnessing someone else’s trauma affects us. In order to take care of others, we must be able to take care of ourselves. Identifying the ways in which other people’s trauma affects us is crucial, especially when engaging in difficult justice work. Take some time to identify which of the following ways of responding to others’ trauma applies to you.
Dry Bones staff and volunteers are committed to serving the large population of homeless teens and young adults living in downtown Denver. The youth who live on the streets of Denver range in age from 12 into their mid-twenties. Dry Bones connects these young people with resources, nutrition, entertainment, and new friends.
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