There can be an emotional toll that is exacted upon the caring individuals who deal intensively with children who are victims of childhood trauma and engaged in the emotional personal struggle that is recovery from childhood trauma. It is our privilege to work in an area in which caring about those who suffer is the main tool of our work. But caring also takes a toll. Being close to ground zero when people, especially children, are traumatized affects the emotional life of those of us who care. And caring should never have to hurt.

This is why CE-CERT (Components for Enhancing Clinician Experience and Reducing Trauma) was developed. It is a model to support the emotional well-being in people who work directly (or indirectly) with high stress populations (such as child abuse). It is an evidence-informed model that has demonstrated its usefulness across the U.S. The focus of CE-CERT is to develop skillfulness in achieving conscious control over the physiological and psychological impacts of working with high stress populations. The model is best viewed as a set of behaviors and strategies for sustaining a career in the helping profession. The creed of CE-CERT is “survival is insufficient.” The goal of CE-CERT is not merely to survive this work: Rather, the goal is to have a vocation that is uniquely and deeply satisfying.