Below relate to the experience and explain it in the context of trauma-exposure response.

Because of continual emotional engagement and constant exposure to patients' traumatic experiences, mental health professionals who continue to work with trauma clients are more likely to experience the symptoms of vicarious trauma (Jimenez, 2021). People will react to exposure to trauma in vastly diverse ways (Lipsky & Burk, 2009).

While working at Child Protective Services, I was assigned to a family, mother, father, and their child. They were involved due to ongoing domestic violence. During a home visit and after a lengthy discussion, the father agreed to move while the mom and the child remained home. The family also agreed to be temporarily supervised by their aunt while participating in services to help with their situation. Later that evening, the aunt called me and explained that the mom and dad had engaged in a physical altercation an hour ago, and their son attempted to intervene, which led him to the hospital. At that immediate moment, I got sick to my stomach, as I was worried about how severely injured the child was. Throughout the phone call, my heart rate increased, my body began to shake, and I felt nauseous. While waiting to hear how the child was recovering, I had difficulty breathing, my muscles began to ache, and I had difficulty concentrating.

"As you care for people with your heart wide open, you often do not realize how much of what you are exposed to is being taken in and held in your body" (Lipsky & Burk, 2009). Since I started my day and ended it with this particular family, my interaction with this family was attributed to my physical reaction to a single interaction with one client.