SAGE Open, 2015, July - September: 1-12

This study extends prior research on vicarious traumatization and emotion management by exploring a deeper, more life altering effect of working with traumatized clients—namely, “soul pain.” Analyses of in-depth interviews with 29 advocates working with survivors of physical and sexual violence reveal that, as a direct consequence of hearing countless stories of
human brutality, some staff members experience a profound wounding of their spirit. This finding expands our understanding of the occupational hazards of the helping professions by revealing another dimension of advocates’ lives - that of the soul or spirit - that may be affected by their work with trauma survivors. (Author's abstract). Record #4849