Whether you serve as a priest, deacon, DRE, youth minister, pastoral minister, Catholic teacher, or nurse — the weight you carry for others is real. This is a place to name it, tame it, and reclaim your joy.
“Naming & Taming Negative Stress in Ministry” — Class 1, on us.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28You are not imagining it
The constant exposure to others’ suffering takes a genuine toll on the emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being of those who serve. The research is clear, and it is not a matter of weak faith.
of clergy report at least one symptom of burnout, with emotional exhaustion the most common complaint among those in ministry.
Doolittle, B. R. (2007). Burnout and coping among parish-based clergy. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 10(1), 31–38.
Clergy show higher rates of chronic stress and depressive symptoms than the general population — a pattern researchers tie directly to compassion fatigue and boundary-less caregiving.
Proeschold-Bell, R. J., et al. (2013). Clergy Health Initiative. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 52(4), 700–720.
lay ecclesial ministers — DREs, catechists, pastoral associates, and coordinators — report emotional exhaustion, often carrying parish demands without the support systems clergy receive.
Fox, Z., & DeLambo, D. (2005). Lay Ecclesial Ministry: Pathways Toward the Future. National Association for Lay Ministry.
of parish and lay ministers say the emotional weight of accompanying others in grief and crisis is one of the hardest, least-discussed parts of their calling.
Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), Georgetown University. Parish Life & Ministry Surveys.
nurses and frontline healthcare workers experience compassion fatigue and burnout — a reality Catholic nurses and hospital ministers carry alongside their spiritual care of the suffering.
Cross, L. A. (2019). Compassion fatigue in nursing: A concept analysis. Nursing Forum, 54(3), 456–462.
of hospital chaplains report high emotional exhaustion — the cost of standing with patients and families at the bedside in moments of trauma, dying, and loss.
Galek, K., et al. (2011). Burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and social support among chaplains. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 17(3–4), 150–172.
Charles Figley (1995) described the “cost of caring” that helpers absorb when they walk with the wounded. It is precisely what a standardized tool like the ProQOL helps make visible — so it can be named, and then tamed.
Figley, C. R. (1995). Compassion Fatigue: Coping with Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder in Those Who Treat the Traumatized. Brunner/Mazel.
A proven, step-by-step path
You don’t have to suffer in silence. This framework meets you where you are and walks with you toward lasting spiritual, mental, and physical health.
We name compassion fatigue honestly by taking the free Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) and companion screens — giving language to what you feel.
Do that for free here →We work on “quick wins” so you can see a measure of hope — small, doable actions that begin to bring new results and relief.
Do that for free here — download the first class free →We retrain the brain and nervous system to hold onto those quick wins and repeat them over time, so peace becomes a pattern.
Consistently maintaining newer actions and attitudes leads to lasting spiritual, mental, and physical health — and a ministry you can sustain.
Meet your guide
As a young Catholic minister, I carried un-named compassion fatigue and depression — I know these struggles from the inside out. And through the Holy Spirit, I also know that hope and healing are possible.
A husband, dad, licensed therapist since 1997, and Catholic coach, I've spent decades walking alongside clergy and lay ministers, addressing compassion fatigue firsthand. This website is the fruit of that work — faith and science woven into those four steps the Lord used to bring healing to me and to others I've walked with.
Read Jim’s full storyIn their own words
Seasoned and new — here is what changed when they learned to care for themselves as beloved children of God.
There was a great balance of scientific information about how our bodies work and practical, spiritual ways to care for ourselves. I learned how meditation or breathing as a spiritual exercise can literally lower your heart rate — and I became aware of things I did without thinking, like negative self-talk. If you have the chance to take this class, I highly recommend it.
The practices were truly foundational for calming my nervous system, reducing negative stress, and allowing more joy into my life. I became more aware of the choice I have in each moment — to move toward peace and grounding in Christ, or toward burnout and chaos. That awareness changed how I show up at work and at home.
These classes reminded me of the importance of caring for myself as a beloved daughter of God. By practicing what I learned, I have found renewed strength and compassion to care for others in my role as a pastoral minister.
Questions, answered
Honest answers for the lay and ordained ministers who serve the Catholic Church.
Anyone doing Catholic ministry — lay or ordained. Priests, deacons, pastoral ministers, DREs, youth ministers, Catholic teachers, Catholic doctors and nurses, catechists, and dedicated volunteers. If you carry the weight of others’ suffering, this is for you.
No. The classes and self-assessments are educational and for self-reflection only. They do not create a therapist-client relationship or replace evaluation and care from a licensed mental-health professional or physician. If your results suggest moderate-to-severe symptoms, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed provider.
Four standardized, research-validated self-screens: the ProQOL (compassion satisfaction & fatigue), the GAD-7 (anxiety), the PHQ-9 (mood/depression), and the ACE questionnaire (adverse childhood experiences). You answer in your browser and receive immediate, encouraging feedback. Nothing is stored on our servers.
Yes. The assessments are scored entirely in your browser. Your responses are not saved, transmitted, or stored on our servers, and submissions are not monitored in real time by clinical staff.
No. The self-assessments are free, and the first class — Naming & Taming Negative Stress in Ministry — is available to you at no cost. Just click the download button and it will be delivered to you.
Please stop and get help immediately. If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, severe emotional distress, or a medical emergency, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, US & Canada), call 911, or contact your local emergency services. This website is not monitored for emergencies.
Your free first class
The first session of the Healthy Catholic Ministry course — yours to download free. Learn to recognize the negative stress you carry, understand what it does to your body and spirit, and take the first practical steps toward peace.
Hosted securely on our course platform. No cost, no obligation.
Take the free assessments
Four research-validated self-screens. Answer honestly, and you’ll receive immediate, encouraging feedback. Everything is scored privately in your browser — nothing is saved or sent.
Important Clinical & Educational Notice · Self-Assessment Disclaimer & Terms of Use
The questionnaires provided on this website—including the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire—are standardized self-reporting tools offered solely for educational, psychoeducational, and self-reflection purposes.
These instruments are intended to help you explore your personal wellness and reflect on emotional trends. They do not constitute a psychological evaluation, psychiatric assessment, medical advice, or clinical diagnosis.
Your use of this website, completion of any self-assessment, and receipt of any automated score summaries does not create a therapist-client, or any other professional confidential relationship between you and healthychurchworkers.org.
Reviewing these results cannot substitute for a comprehensive clinical assessment by a qualified, licensed mental health professional, physician, or other healthcare provider.
Screening, Not Diagnosing: Elevated or low scores indicate self-reported symptom patterns only. A formal diagnosis of depression, anxiety, or trauma-related conditions can only be made by a licensed healthcare provider through direct, comprehensive clinical evaluation.
Consult a Professional: If your scores indicate moderate to severe symptoms, or if you are experiencing distress that impacts your daily life, relationships, or ministry, we strongly encourage you to discuss these results with a licensed therapist or physician.
Self-Reliance Warning: Do not disregard, avoid, or delay obtaining professional medical or mental health advice because of any score or information provided on this site.
Automated Scoring: The calculations generated by this tool are automated based on the answers you submit.
Data Transmission (Anonymous): Responses to the scores are scored in your browser and are not saved, transmitted, or stored on our servers.
Unmonitored Submissions: Submissions through this form are not monitored 24/7 or reviewed in real time by clinical staff.
By utilizing this tool, you acknowledge and agree that healthychurchworkers.org is not liable for any decisions made, actions taken, or omissions resulting from the information or scores provided by these screening instruments.
Please check the box above to unlock the assessments.
Answer each one honestly. After each assessment, press See My Results for immediate, encouraging feedback. The 988 crisis line stays with you at the bottom of the page the entire time.
Whatever your scores, remember: they are a snapshot, not a sentence. The next gentle step is Class One — free, and yours to keep.
Download “Naming & Taming Negative Stress in Ministry”The one next step
You don’t have to carry it alone or in silence. Begin with the free first class and take one small, hope-filled step today.
Download the First Class Free
About Jim
Jim has been married to his best friend, Maureen, since 1995, and has been a part-time stay-at-home dad since 1999. Together, they are frequent presenters of retreats and workshops for clergy, couples, deacons and their wives, and lay ministers across the U.S.
Jim holds a Master’s in Applied Psychology and is finishing his doctorate in Psychology (ABD), researching compassion fatigue and ministry. Licensed in Minnesota to provide therapy since 1997, he is the CEO and steward of a mental health clinic in St. Cloud, MN: thecenterforfamilycounseling.com. A Catholic coach since the mid-2000s, he works with ordained and lay leaders.
For years, Jim was a regular guest on Relevant Radio, and he and Maureen have appeared together on EWTN.
Jim and Maureen are also the primary authors of Fully Engaged, a Catholic, catechetical pre-marriage inventory and formation program for engaged couples and their mentor couples: getfullyengaged.com. Fully Engaged is now used in nearly half of all U.S. dioceses and over 1,400 parishes nationwide, teaching couples the truths of the Catholic faith through practical, research-backed guidance on living out the Sacrament of marriage.
When he’s not creating, teaching, or researching, Jim loves hiking, kayaking, and spending time outdoors with his family, or settling in for a good movie. He and Maureen are the parents of seven children in heaven and three young adult children on earth, and know firsthand the joys and challenges of special-needs parenting.
