Our Mission
The mission of the Journalist Trauma Support Network (JTSN) program is to establish an international community of qualified therapists trained to care for trauma-impacted journalists. To best serve journalists, we provide therapists with cultural competence and data security training, peer support, and referral pathways.
Why trauma support for journalists?
A Profession Under Pressure
Journalists reporting on health, environmental and political crises today deal with an extraordinary level of stress and trauma exposure. Yet many can’t access quality mental health treatment when they need it. Financial strain is just one of the barriers to good care.
We often hear that “therapists don’t get journalism…”
The most common complaint from journalists who try therapy and quit is that the therapist was “shocked” by what they shared, and/or “didn’t get me.” This often translates as the therapist doesn’t “get” journalism. What is “traumatic” for a person who goes toward danger for a living? Do “freelance” reporters get safety training before they cover disasters? Are war reporters “adrenaline junkies”? What does “news judgment” mean?
Journalism culture holds keys for therapeutic success
Like military personnel and first responders, journalists work within a distinct professional culture, under conditions that are very different from most careers. Journalists encounter an unusual “dose” and variety of traumatic material in their work and are generally highly resilient. They are accustomed to self-sufficiency, agility, and hard deadlines. When they are impacted to the point of seeking help, it is critical that the helper be able to quickly understand their “normal” and what has overwhelmed their particular coping system. If this can be done efficiently, the journalist client is likely to actively partner with a therapist to determine what they need to stabilize and move forward.
JTSN training provides therapists the cultural awareness and vocabulary to establish credibility with journalist clients, assess clients in context, and provide accurate empathy in therapy.
Please explore this site to learn more about our training and how you can support our mission.