Secondary Trauma · Issue October 9, 2026

Review Recovery Without Demanding a Timeline

By Dr. Veronica Y. Griffin, Ph.D., MSW, LCSW, LICSW, LCSW-C, CCTP

People do not all respond to difficult work in the same way or on the same schedule. A follow-up conversation can explore current functioning and support needs without requiring someone to prove that they are fully recovered.

Ask whether agreed changes have been useful and whether consultation or other resources are needed. Supervisors can review work requirements while respecting the boundary between professional support and clinical treatment. Do not use an informal conversation to diagnose a staff member.

Research connection

NCTSN offers supervision competencies addressing secondary traumatic stress. These are practice guidance, not proof that one conversation prevents symptoms. [1]

Put it into practice

Revisit one earlier support plan. Ask what helped, what remains difficult, and what needs to change. Agree on the next review and encourage appropriate clinical assessment for ongoing distress.

Reference

[1] National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (2018). Using the Secondary Traumatic Stress Core Competencies in Trauma-Informed Supervision.

Practice suggestions are editorial applications; the cited source has not tested this exact exercise.