This story was originally published by the Times Argus on June 25, 2025.
CASTLETON — For the fourth consecutive year, Vermont State University Castleton’s Center for Social Justice and Trauma Responsive Care is focusing on the wellness needs of professionals in helping fields.
Held at VTSU Castleton, The Building Strength Through Wellness Conference is designed to help professionals in person-facing fields focus on understanding vicarious trauma and promoting self-care over a full day of workshops, wellness activities and community connection.
The Wednesday conference hosted four different workshops across two time blocks, including “Care of Self” hosted by Kheya Ganguly, “Survival Skills” hosted by Amy Miller, “Wellness & Resiliency Training for Helping Professionals” hosted by Mike Cancellieri and “Know Your No: A poetic practice in permissions” hosted by Bianca Zanella.
“Professionals, whether it’s social workers, educators, teachers, therapists, or medical staff, from all walks of life who are working with and helping people are also suffering. We used to call it burnout, (but) what we realized after years is that we’re suffering from vicarious trauma, and often the symptoms look like PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder),” event organizer Pat Brougham said.
Brougham said that those in caring fields tend to experience the trauma of others, and sometimes even face direct trauma, as a result of their professions.
“Usually by the end of the conference, (participants say), ‘Wow, this is great. Today was focused on me,’” Brougham said.
