What does it mean to listen to trauma every day? This account explores the hidden world of abuse disclosures — and the cultural and spiritual barriers that make leaving harder than it seems.
Imagine listening to an unfolding story of a woman’s physical abuse and not being able to react the way your body and soul demand. Imagine having to hold an even expression, keep your voice steady and calm, hold your tears in check until the session ends, and — mercifully — the door closes behind her.
That is often the work of an intimate partner violence counselor: bearing witness and offering compassion to what should never be spoken, but must be said aloud…