Vicarious Trauma and Psychosocial Risk in the Workplace with Dr Naveed Sheikh

Vicarious trauma is not just a clinical concept; it is a real workplace risk for lawyers, claims teams, clinicians, and anyone who spends their days reading, hearing, or working inside other people’s worst moments. I’m joined today by Dr Naveed Sheikh, consultant psychiatrist and senior medical practitioner, and Vanessa Daniel, National Customer Legal Manager at mlcoa, to have a conversation about what vicarious trauma looks like in the real world and why psychosocial safety at work is now front and centre.We talk about the difference between direct trauma and vicarious trauma, and why the impact can be cumulative even when you were not physically there. Dr Sheikh explains why not every exposure leads to PTSD, but why it still needs to be taken seriously, particularly in high exposure professions like law, medicine, policing, and insurance. Vanessa shares what this looks like through a medico-legal lens, including how sensitive material shows up in legal work and why systems and culture matter as much as individual resilience.We also explore the legal and workplace obligations around psychosocial hazards, including the growing expectation that employers manage psychological risk alongside physical risk. Dr Sheikh shares practical warning signs to watch for, and what supportive workplaces can do early, including debriefing, mentorship, and normalising help-seeking. If you lead a team, work in personal injury or claims, or want a clearer understanding of vicarious trauma in the workplace, this conversation will give you a grounded place to start.CHAPTER MARKERS00:00 Welcome And Introductions01:17 Dr Naveed Background04:12 What Is Vicarious Trauma05:23 Legal Landscape Overview09:27 Diagnosis PTSD Vs Adjustment12:46 Treating Vs Forensic Roles18:17 Trauma Memory Loop21:31 Workplace Management Strategies25:07 Humour And Resilience26:28 Team Debriefs And SupportMore From Damien:Website | LinkedIn | YouTubeWORK WITH ME:Book a Mediation or a 15-minute Discovery call with Damien: https://www.evolveresolve.com/booking Website: https://www.evolveresolve.com/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/damien-van-brunschot YouTube: @evolveresolve Email: [email protected] Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is general information only and does not constitute legal or medical advice.©2026 mlcoa | Law, Medicine & Everything in Between.Mentioned in this episode:mlcoa