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CLINICAL PRACTICE

exposure to the trauma of victims. It does not reduce or remove painful or negative emotions but provides resil ience and the ability to continue expressing empathy and compassion. The ethical component of compas sion is based on the virtue of benevolence. A virtuous approach to serving those suffering could strengthen one’s capacity to have empathy and compassion. It aligns with biblical teachings and the example of the life and work of Jesus Christ on earth. Thus, implementing training programs to teach and practice biblical virtues would increase compassion and empathy. It would enhance the capacity to experience CS, an oppositional internal force against CF that could sustain one’s capacity to show and act with compassion. The seven biblical virtues are faith, justice, pru dence, hope, temperance, fortitude, and charity. Faith is the foundation of all other virtues. Faith is the belief that each person carries the image of God, as humans are created in His image. Justice is based on God’s love for the world and not prejudice. John 3:16-17 (NASB): “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.” Prudence is the wisdom to make the right choices, hope is to believe in what we cannot see based on faith (Hebrews 11:1), temperance is the ability to set boundaries and practice constraints, fortitude is to persevere, and charity is the greatest of all virtues and an expression of agape love. A biblical principle that we should follow to increase compassion is to keep in mind that charity is not only giving what is surplus but also giving of ourselves. Christ said in John 13:34 (NASB), “… that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” ; Nicolene L. Joubert, Ph.D., is a

Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction As previously mentioned, the risk of developing CF and the consequences of reduced empathy and compassion prompt us to take note of the increasing evidence that compassion can be taught. Some key components have been identified for compassion training (i.e., self-com passion, psychological flexibility, compassionate prac tice, and compassionate leadership in healthcare or counseling ministry cultures). Compassion training could increase the capacity to regulate emotions and build resilience. It can strengthen altruistic behavior and lead to better coping skills and an increased ability to have self-compassion. Compassion training increases activation in the brain areas associated with love, posi tive emotions, and reward. Self-care strategies include setting healthy bound aries and developing self-compassion. A key factor is to be kind to oneself and recognize common humanity or feeling connected to others who consider themselves inadequate because of mistakes. The connection means sharing experiences rather than isolating oneself. Connecting to Christ and His deep love and compassion for the world forms the foundation for connecting to oth ers in a shared space. Meditation on God’s Word and His acts of kindness and love would ease emotional distress and alleviate self-judgment. This would increase com passion satisfaction. A Biblical Response Compassion satisfaction is associated with a positive work experience despite difficult circumstances of

Counseling Psychologist and an Adjunct Professor of Psychology and Christian Counseling at Houston Christian University in Texas.

References Cocker, F., & Joss, N. (2016). Compassion fatigue among healthcare, emergency and community service workers: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13 (6), 618. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13060618. Figley, C.R. (1995). Compassion fatigue: Coping with secondary trau matic stress disorder in those who treat the traumatized. Figley, C.R. (2002). Compassion fatigue: Psychotherapists’ chronic lack of self-care. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58 (11), 1433-1441. Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “compassion (n.), etymology,” September 2023, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/3741965505.

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