Vicarious Trauma in Christian Ministry

When Daniel (not his real name) first lost his appetite and began waking at night, he assumed he might be physically unwell and went to his doctor for tests. At the time, Daniel was in a good place with his spouse, and his family appeared to be thriving. Nothing in his circumstances seemed to point to emotional distress. In fact, if someone had told Daniel that his symptoms were the result of vicarious trauma—a by-product of ministry-related exposure to others' difficult life events—he would have been completely blindsided.

What is Vicarious Trauma?

Vicarious trauma is a significant struggle for many in the caring professions—pastoral workers, police, medical care, social services, and increasingly, clergy (or church leaders). In a recent survey I conducted with 56 Anglican clergy, 65.5% reported experiencing some degree of trauma, underscoring the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions. 

Vicarious trauma can present as a combination of:

• Emotional exhaustion 
• Intrusive thoughts or images 
• Loss of hope or sense of meaning 
• Physical sensations, changes to appetite/sleep 
• Difficulty feeling safe or trusting others 
• Changes in relationships

Vicarious Trauma in Ministry

Clergy have long suffered from a lack of emotional and psychological support, often exacerbated by the absence of professional supervision or counselling. This has left many ill-equipped to process the profound impact of exposure to deeply traumatic social situations. Their safeguarding responsibilities, in particular, have exposed them to numerous survivor and perpetrator disclosures, often accompanied by overwhelming anxiety about reporting competently and creating safe worshipping environments—sometimes involving known offenders under strict conditions. In the clergy wellbeing survey, safeguarding issues emerged as the most traumatising single issue, cited as the highest concern by 41.7% of respondents. 

One of the challenges we face in creating awareness about trauma is the misconceptions surrounding what kind of events can trigger it. I personally experienced trauma in the early years of my ministry when I was caught up in the 2005 London bombings. This led to an acute period of PTSD and anxiety, requiring time off work, therapy, and medication to recover. At the time, I believed trauma only occurred in very notable events—like terrorist attacks or natural disasters. However, through two years of psychotherapy, I learned that while "grand trauma" exists, there are also "smaller" traumas—smaller, cumulative events that can slowly overwhelm us. These often sink us quietly, without warning, and leave us vulnerable to burnout and disillusionment.

In 2023, The Mind and Soul Foundation partnered with Oxford University's Faculty of Divinity and Professor Josh Hordern to explore vicarious trauma in Christian ministry. Our research has revealed that ministry-associated trauma is multi-layered, combining significant incidents with the countless smaller exposures that come with pastoral work. Without proper support and processing, these experiences build up over time. As one senior clergy member shared with me, "The clergy contract is fundamentally broken." The expectations for clergy well-being have collapsed under the weight of unrelenting demands, while the necessary support remains glaringly absent. What is being asked of clergy today is simply beyond what could reasonably be expected of any single leader. They are not only being exposed to more and more distressing circumstances, they have less time, capacity and resources to attend to the traumatic associations of that exposure.

This breakdown has clear implications for leadership resilience and the ability to sustain healthy relationships but it is also far more than a purely psychological phenomena. Like many people interested in trauma, The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk has become something of a foundational text. He notes "Trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain, and body."(p269) Trauma has a profound physical and psychosocial impact on those who experience it.

As someone with a passion for clergy wellbeing that has spanned nearly two decades I anticipated clergy wellbeing to progressively improve alongside science and awareness. Instead I have never felt more concerned about it than I do today. For me, trauma is the predominant hidden factor in the decline of clergy wellbeing. As van der Kolk comments "Traumatized people learn that they can’t afford to feel." (p142) Many of the clergy I encounter suffer from workaholism, a lack of life margin, extreme stress and constant rumination. When we cannot afford to feel our unprocessed feelings or lack the support to begin, the only alternative is to block them out with overactivity. Which in itself only serves to produce more emotional distress and exposure to new stressors.

Trauma-informed Church

Vicarious trauma is no longer an unfortunate exception faced by a few; it is fast becoming a professional hazard that requires research and mitigation. Addressing this reality demands practical, accessible solutions that equip clergy and other caring professionals with tools to process their experiences and sustain long-term well-being. In the short term, we need to become alive to the real impact of the distress we often encounter in Christian ministry. By becoming institutionally trauma-informed, we not only reduce the risk of retraumatising individuals but also create church environments where healing, trust, and resilience can thrive for both congregation members and clergy alike.