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Clergy Knowledge of Trauma and Intervention with Rural Help-seekers

Vandevender, Anna and Riding-Malon, Ruth and Pierce, Thomas W. and Lee, Nicholas A. Clergy Knowledge of Trauma and Intervention with Rural Help-seekers. 2018. Radford University, Dissertation. Radford University Scholars' Repository.

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Abstract

Clergy often serve as frontline mental health workers for their faith communities, particularly in rural areas. Due to the intimate and longstanding nature of the relationships clergy develop with members of their congregation, as well as the stigma surrounding mental illnesses that may prevent rural help-seekers from pursuing traditional mental health care, clergy often provide a source of support and counsel. The tendency to provide care and support for help-seekers places clergy in a position to assist individuals experiencing posttraumatic stress reactions. The responsibility and strain of supporting trauma survivors has the potential to increase rates of burnout and secondary traumatization in clergy. This study utilized a consensual qualitative research design to explore the relationship between clergy knowledge about, and intervention with, trauma in rural areas, as well as the impact this work has on clergy self-care practices and coping.

Item Type: Dissertation
Uncontrolled Keywords: Rural, trauma survivors, clergy, interdisciplinary collaboration
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Radford University > College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences > Department of Psychology
Date Deposited: 31 May 2019 16:13
Last Modified: 19 Apr 2023 17:13
URI: http://wagner.radford.edu/id/eprint/461

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