ART for Medical Providers Affected by Workplace Violence
Processing Workplace Violence Trauma with ART
The Reality of Violence in Healthcare
Workplace violence toward healthcare professionals has become alarmingly common. Providers across hospitals, outpatient clinics, urgent care centers, and psychiatric units face verbal abuse, physical threats, and assault. Nurses, physicians, and allied health workers are often the first point of contact for dysregulated or distressed patients, which places them directly in harm’s way. These incidents don’t just end when the shift does—they follow providers home.
Symptoms of Trauma After Workplace Violence
After an incident, clinicians may feel anxious, on edge, or unsafe. Many experience hypervigilance, difficulty trusting patients, and heightened startle responses. Others replay the event repeatedly, lose confidence in clinical interactions, or feel irritated and emotionally depleted. Even when injuries are minor or nonexistent, the psychological effects can be profound. Providers may dread returning to the location where the incident occurred or feel disconnected from their sense of purpose.
Why Trauma from Violence Is Especially Impactful for Healthcare Workers
Clinicians are trained to provide care—not to defend themselves against aggression. When violence occurs, it violates the fundamental expectations of the caregiver role. Many providers struggle with conflicting emotions: fear, anger, guilt for feeling afraid, or shame for being unable to prevent escalation. Without proper processing, these feelings can lead to chronic stress, burnout, absenteeism, or professional withdrawal.
How ART Helps Providers After Aggressive Incidents
ART enables clinicians to process the traumatic memory of the incident without retelling the story in detail. Through bilateral eye movements, the brain reduces the emotional charge, allowing the memory to feel neutral rather than threatening. Providers often report rapid relief from fear, intrusive thoughts, and physiological tension. ART restores emotional equilibrium, helping healthcare workers return to patient care with confidence rather than fear.
Building a Foundation of Emotional Safety in Healthcare
Healing workplace violence trauma is essential not only for individual well-being but also for the safety and effectiveness of entire medical teams. ART supports providers in rebuilding trust, reengaging with patients, and feeling grounded in clinical environments again.
Call to Action
If you’ve experienced workplace violence in your medical role, healing is possible.
Book an ART session today.
Peer-Reviewed References
Phillips, J. (2016). Workplace violence against health care workers. New England Journal of Medicine.
Pompeii, L. A. et al. (2015). Violence in healthcare settings. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Kip, K. E. (2013). ART research outcomes. Behavioral Sciences.
Edward, K. (2014). Trauma in healthcare staff. Collegian.