The Effectiveness of Self-Induced Unclassified Therapeutic Tremor for Decreasing Secondary Traumatic Stress among Social Workers

Abstract

Secondary traumatic stress symptoms are marked by the emergence of traumatic memories experienced by other
people, rejection of the stimulus that triggers traumatic memories, and emotional turmoil. If left untreated, it may
lower the quality of service and health of social workers. To lower secondary traumatic stress symptoms, it is
necessary to deliver psychological treatment that can be easily and independently done, is effective and cost-
efficient, and universal. As such, Therapeutic Tremor Exercises through Self-Induction are considered
appropriate to respond to this need. This study aims to identify the effect of self-induced unclassified therapeutic
tremor exercises on reducing secondary traumatic stress levels. This study hypothesizes that there will be
differences in secondary traumatic stress levels among social workers before and after samples are given self-
induced therapeutic tremor exercises. Subjects consisted of female social workers (n = 5) who were indirectly
exposed to traumatic stories of victims for at least 2 hours a week. The study used a single-group pre-post design
by comparing secondary trauma stress levels before and after the intervention. The intervention was a one-day
joint training and 14-day independent training. Wilcoxon’s signed-rank test showed significant differences with
Z = -2.023, p = .043, whereby secondary trauma stress levels prior to the intervention (M = 45.4) was higher than
after the intervention (M = 26.2).