It is essential for all professionals, including faith leaders, working with domestic abuse victims to take good care of themselves physically, psychologically, and spiritually on a consistent basis. Providing pastoral support to victims in crisis can be very stressful and it can be difficult to leave the work "at the office." It is important for faith leaders to recognize the signs of secondary or vicarious trauma and have the resources they need to care for themselves so they can be strong, healthy, and resilient to help others. The following are some suggested resources for faith leaders to identify and treat vicarious trauma.
"Ultimately, the strength we all need to engage this difficult topic comes from our faith itself." - Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence