After twelve years of training neighbors and organizations on trauma-informed and trauma-responsive care, I have found there are two critical elements that must be present: compassion and empathy. If we do not work to cultivate these two qualities as character virtues, then all of the knowledge and practices trauma studies teach us will be useless.
Compassion has its roots in the Old Saxon word for “care” is kara. The Latin of kara is “compassio”—to suffer with. Compassion means to lament or mourn or share in another person’s pain—it’s entering into suffering, not taking it away. More provocatively, it is to be moved in the inward parts, in the visceral organs or bowels. Compassion is gut-level sympathy we call empathy.
Empathy is a cognitive response that requires a person to engage their imagination, to see with the eyes of the mind and heart another person’s struggle in order to foster compassion and shared sense of suffering.
Without compassion and empathy we will no longer see trauma as an explanation, but view it instead as an “excuse.” We will subconsciously put ourselves in the seat of judgment, rather than de-center ourselves. When times get hard we will choose the default impulse to facilitate a program over presence and bend toward “fixing,” or other behavioral modification tactics. In our subconscious the neighbor will lose their person-centered identity and self-directed agency. In the end, everyone gets hurt.
Compassion and empathy are critical to care.
About Fred
Fred came to serve greater Williamsburg and WCC as lead pastor in October of 2010 and is grateful to be a part of the family. He is a husband, father, certified trauma professional, S.T.A.R. (strategies for trauma awareness & resilience) practitioner, community organizer, TEDx alum, founder of 3e Restoration, Inc. and co-owner of Philoxenia Culture LLC. He received his B.S. in Ministry/Bible at Amridge University and his Master’s of Religious Education in Missional Leadership from Rochester University. Currently he is a candidate for a Doctorate of Ministry in Contextual Theology in at Northern Seminary in Chicago. Fred also serves as an adjunct lecturer for William & Mary and has served as an adjunct professor for Rochester University and Regent University where he taught courses in philosophy, ethics, leadership, pastoral care, intro to Christianity, and ethnography. Fred has authored on book (Racialized Cultural Systems, Social Displacement and Christian Hospitality) and several curriculum offerings, including The FloorPlan: Living Toward Restoration & Resilience.
Fred enjoys hanging out with his family anytime, anywhere. He is deeply grateful for how God graciously works through the Church in all her various forms, despite our brokenness. He is passionate about seeing the last, least, and lonely of every neighborhood, city and nation experience God’s in-breaking kingdom, and come to know Jesus as King. Oh, and his favorite season is Advent and Christmas.
Fred serves on the advisory boards of Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, Bacon Street Youth & Family Services, and FreeKind. He is also a founding member of the board of directors for Virginia Racial Healing Institute, a member of Greater Williamsburg Trauma-Informed Community Network's Racial Trauma Committee and Training Committee.
Long Way Here 
Fred, the difficulty in fostering, compassion and empathy in our society today is North America’s emphasis upon individual identity. Our very social structure does not allow for the grace of interdependence and weakness is seen as a “drain“ to society.
If we are going to address the need for compassion and empathy in our society today, we must first recognize and acknowledge a social need to change our identities tune in twined interdependent communal practice. Of course, that runs the risk of labeling me as a socialist! I am Canadian. 😉
As an example, I recently read an article on the two polarities of the social model of disability and the medical model of disability. I thought I’d share it with you.
https://themighty.com/topic/disability/30-years-americans-disabilities-act/
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I agree bro. Thank you for reading, engaging, and sharing that article too. I hope you are well!
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