Shared Trauma occurs when both therapist and client are impacted by the same collective or large-scale traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, war, mass violence, or a global pandemic. In these circumstances, both parties are navigating similar fears, uncertainties, and grief, which can shift the traditional therapeutic dynamic. While shared trauma can blur professional boundaries, it can also deepen empathy, authenticity, and mutual humanity in the therapeutic relationship. Therapists, though trained to hold space for others, are not immune to distress—and may experience compassion fatigue, burnout, or secondary trauma. Navigating shared trauma requires transparency, supervision, and mutual care. It invites therapists to model vulnerability without over-disclosing and to cultivate shared resilience without losing therapeutic focus. For clients, knowing they’re not alone in their experience can be deeply validating. Shared trauma is an emerging concept in trauma-informed care and emphasizes the need for community-wide healing models, especially during crises. It reshapes the question from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What’s happening to all of us?”
How to Get Reimbursed for Online Therapy in 2025
Step-by-step instructions to use insurance—or claim it back yourself—for online therapy in 2025, plus low-cost tips when you have no coverage.
