25/09/2026
𝑯𝑨𝑩𝑨𝑵𝑮 𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑼𝑻𝑼𝑳𝑼𝑵𝑮𝑨𝑵 𝑵𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑵 𝑺𝑰𝑳𝑨𝑵𝑮 𝑴𝑨𝑲𝑨𝑩𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑶𝑵, 𝑺𝑰𝑵𝑶 𝑵𝑨𝑴𝑨𝑵 𝑨𝑵𝑮 𝑻𝑼𝑻𝑼𝑳𝑶𝑵𝑮 𝑺𝑨 𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑵?🧠
During our Psychological First Aid (PFA) provision, one thing I was reminded of is this: Social workers are also human.
Kapag nakikinig ka sa isang bata na nagkukuwento tungkol sa takot, pagkawala, violence, abuse, displacement, o iba pang traumatic experiences, hindi ibig sabihin na dahil professional ka, wala ka nang mararamdaman. Minsan, maaapektuhan ka rin.
Minsan, maiuuwi mo sa isip mo ang kwento nila. Minsan, mapapaisip ka, “Paano kaya niya kinaya iyon?”
And this is something that social workers and other helping professionals should take seriously.
Research distinguishes burnout from secondary traumatic stress (STS). Burnout is associated with chronic workplace stress and may involve exhaustion, becoming mentally distant or cynical toward work, and feeling less effective professionally. Meanwhile, secondary traumatic stress can happen when a professional is repeatedly exposed to the traumatic experiences of the people they help. In other words, hindi ikaw mismo ang nakaranas ng trauma, pero exposure mo sa trauma ng iba can still affect you.
In one study involving 236 social workers, secondary trauma and burnout were both associated with psychological distress. The researchers also found that involvement in disaster recovery was related to secondary trauma.
A more recent 2026 meta-analysis of 84 studies involving child protection workers also found that factors such as workload and role stress were associated with burnout and secondary traumatic stress, while supervisor support, organizational support, team collaboration, self-care, resilience, and social support were among factors associated with better outcomes. The researchers also noted that much of the existing evidence is cross-sectional, so these relationships should not automatically be interpreted as proof of causation.
So, what can social workers do?
1. Acknowledge your emotions.
Hindi kailangan maging emotionless para maging professional. Recognize what you are feeling without allowing it to interfere with the client's needs.
2. Practice healthy bou ndaries.
Empathy does not mean carrying the entire burden of the client. We can care deeply without taking responsibility for everything that happens in their life.
3. Debrief and seek supervision.
After difficult cases, talk with your supervisor or trusted colleagues when appropriate. Professional support is not a sign of weakness. SAMHSA specifically recommends organizational support, consultation, and appropriate processing after critical incidents involving secondary traumatic stress.
4. Don't underestimate rest and recovery.
Self-care is not simply “mag-coffee ka” or “magbakasyon ka.” It can include adequate rest, boundaries, social support, healthy routines, and knowing when you need additional professional help.
5. Watch for warning signs.
Persistent exhaustion, irritability, emotional numbness, cynicism toward work, difficulty concentrating, intrusive thoughts about clients' traumatic experiences, or avoiding things that remind you of the trauma may be signs that you need to pause and seek support.
And perhaps one of the most important reminders: We don't have to become emotionally numb to be effective social workers. We can remain empathetic without becoming overwhelmed. We can listen without carrying everything. We can care without losing ourselves.
Because the goal of PFA is to provide humane, practical, and immediate support to people experiencing distress—not for the helper to absorb their trauma.
And if you're a social worker, social work student, counselor, teacher, responder, or any helping professional: You are allowed to care for yourself, too. Hindi selfish ang magpahinga. Hindi weakness ang humingi ng supervision. Hindi kawalan ng compassion ang pagkakaroon ng boundaries.
A helper who takes care of their own wellbeing is also protecting their capacity to continue helping others. ❤️
For educational purposes only. PFA is not a substitute for specialized mental health or clinical intervention when such services are needed.
Photo Credits: DSWD Field Office XII
