Includes bibliographical references (pages 257-296) and index.

Introduction -- Stress and trauma in social work -- Factors contributing to trauma response -- Factors contributing to stress response -- Competence and expertise -- Decision-making -- Stress, trauma and decision-making -- Mitigating the effects of stress and trauma on decision-making -- Improving decision-making in situations of uncertainty.

Social workers regularly make high-risk, high-impact decisions: determining that a child has been abused; that an individual may take their own life; or that someone with a history of violence poses harm to another. Cheryl Regehr explores the intersection between workplace stress, trauma exposure, and professional decision-making, weaving together practice experience, research on the impact of stress and trauma in high-risk professions, and the empirical study of competence and decision-making. The book is critical reading for all social workers who engage in high-stakes decision-making, from those newly embarking on a career to expert practitioners. -- From back cover.