Vocational Trauma as a Pastor

Vocational trauma is a concept that is often neglected when it comes to pastoral ministry. As a pastor attempts to navigate the various nuances of ministry, vocational trauma is often a prevalent issue. The problem with vocational trauma is that many pastors and church leaders to not know how to recognize or define it. Furthermore, the Church needs to understand how to combat and deal with vocational trauma once it is identified. In this video, we are unpacking what vocational trauma is, how it can be identified, and how to deal with it effectively.

The type of trauma being discussed in this video is sparked by emotional wounds that the pastor may possess. Emotional wounds are a typical part of living out ones calling to be in ministry. As you dive into your ministerial journey, you can expect for there to be some hurt along the way. While this is the case, it is still very possible to be caught blindsided by a hurtful event. Perhaps a friend in ministry betrays you, you suffer a sudden loss, or someone behaves poorly within your church. Whatever the case is, sudden events that take place can cause emotional and vocational trauma.

As you read this, you may be wondering what vocational trauma really is. You may also be attempting to recall if you have ever felt this type of trauma before. The reality is, every pastor and church leader goes through tough and trying seasons. While this is true, we get to decide how we handle these times. How can a pastor effectively handle vocational trauma? What are the things that lead to emotional and vocational trauma? What does all of this mean for the pastor or church leader?

In this video:

We are taking some time to unpack what it means to go through vocational trauma as a pastor. We will teach you how to identify it and deal with it in a way that will propel and sustain your effective leadership.