Vicarious Trauma & Burnout:Self-Care and DBT Skills for Distress Tolerance & Emotional Regulation

Please join us for Vicarious Trauma & Burnout: Self-Care and DBT Skills for Distress Tolerance & Emotional Regulation hosted by The National Capacity Building (NCB) Project at the Center for Victims of Torture, Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, and The National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs.

Date: January 20, 2026
Time: 11:30 – 1:00 PM ET (10:30 – 12:00 CT, 9:30 – 11:00 MT, 8:30 – 10:00 PT)

Description

Burnout is common among high stress, high stakes work environments. Vicarious trauma can also be high among providers working with survivors of torture given the emotional content of survivors’ experiences. The ability to recognize signs of burnout and vicarious trauma is critical for protecting provider wellbeing and ensuring high quality clinical care. This talk will help build awareness of burnout and vicarious trauma and will provide a framework for self-care as an ethical responsibility for providers in this line of work. After providing a holistic definition of self-care, we will then explore several Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills and techniques focused on distress tolerance and emotional regulation, offering practical strategies providers can use to support the wellbeing of both their clients and themselves.

Learning Objectives

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:  

• Identify symptoms of vicarious trauma and burnout
• Understand the framing of self-care as an ethical responsibility
• Define a holistic concept of self-care
• Name at least three different DBT skills that can support survivors of torture and providers alike
• Use concrete DBT skills to support distress tolerance and emotional regulation

Who should attend?

This session is designed for providers working with survivors of torture populations across disciplines, including legal services, social work, psychology, psychiatry, medicine, and case management.

Meet the Presenters

Praise Iyiewuare, PhD, MPH

Dr. Praise Iyiewuare, PhD, MPH is a licensed clinical psychologist. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Vermont. She has provided psychological services through the New England Survivors of Torture and Trauma Program for five years. Presently, her clinical work involves conducting evaluations for individuals seeking asylum in the United States. Dr. Iyiewuare takes an evidence-based and strengths-based approach to her work with clients. She also accounts for how clients’ social positioning and identities impact their mental wellbeing. Dr. Iyiewuare’s research as a postdoctoral fellow focuses on how the lived experience of pleasure impacts Black women’s mental, sexual, and reproductive health.

Rosalie Wright-Lapin, LICSW

Rosalie Wright-Lapin is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Vermont and the Program Director of New England Survivors of Torture and Trauma (NESTT). Over the past six years, Rosalie has worked with NESTT in various capacities including as a case manager, therapist, director of social services, supervisor, and most recently as the program director. In her clinical work Rosalie uses a client-centered, strengths-based and bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach, and integrates elements of polyvagal theory as they relate to trauma and PTSD. She draws on various evidenced-based modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and former Director of NESTT Dr. Karen Fondacaro’s chronic traumatic stress framework.