Date of Conferral
12-17-2025
Date of Award
December 2025
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Psychology
Advisor
Jana Price-Sharps
Abstract
This qualitative study involved gaining a better understanding of the perceptions of therapists who work with domestic violence victims, and how the therapists’ work may contribute to the development of compassion fatigue and burnout in the treating therapists. The goal was to gather firsthand data regarding the lived experiences of therapists. This study involved conducting semi-structured interviews with six counselors, listening to lived experiences, reading transcriptions, taking and reading notes in a journal during and after interviews, and analyzing data. The social ecological theory guided the study. The research identified 11 key themes highlighting the significant stress associated with this job. All participants met the inclusion criteria of the study. They were licensed therapists with experience working with victims of domestic violence and licensed therapists with varying ages and lengths of service. The study found that there is a critical need for mentorship, supervision, and the ability to consult with colleagues and peers about these situations. This underscores the need for institutional knowledge, more robust institutional support, trauma-informed supervision, and social contextual structures that need to be created to protect therapists and victims. The findings of this study have potential implications for positive social change by informing the development of policies and practices that better support therapists and other helping professionals working in high-stress environments.
Recommended Citation
Edwards, Bernadine, "The Perception of Therapists About Compassion Fatigue and Burnout After Working With Victims of Domestic Violence" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 18894.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/18894
