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PACEs in the Faith-Based Community

What does it mean for a ministry to be "trauma-informed?"

 

There is a growing trend in education, mental health, social services, and health care: becoming trauma-informed. For those in ministry, “trauma informed” can be a confusing phrase, bringing up images we might not naturally associate with the church and its mission and ministry.

Trauma results from something that occurs in a person’s life that is experienced as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening. An event, circumstance or series of events that are traumatic leaves lasting effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being. It is as much about the person’s internal processing of a stressful and difficult situation as it is about the circumstance that results in the trauma. What might traumatize one individual deeply might not as dramatically affect another.

Most ministries seek to comfort those who are in distress, help those less fortune, and desire to alleviate suffering where they can. But, in doing so, perhaps they have not even considered those quietly suffering in their churches and communities due to the present difficulties resulting from past traumatic experiences? How might the church minister more effectively to these individuals? The answer is to become trauma-informed. So, what is “trauma-informed ministry,” and does it have a place in your church and community?

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the concept of a trauma-informed approach would mean that “a program, organization, or system that is trauma-informed:

  1. Realizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for recovery;
  2. Recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff, and others involved with the system;
  3. Responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices; and
  4. Seeks to actively resist re-traumatization.”

A trauma-informed approach can be implemented in any type of service setting or organization, including churches and para-church ministries, and is distinct from trauma-specific interventions or treatments that are designed specifically to address the consequences of trauma and to facilitate healing, like Intermountain.

SAMHSA also prescribes the following six key principles of a trauma-informed approach to service. They are:

  1. Safety
  2. Trustworthiness and Transparency
  3. Peer support
  4. Collaboration and mutuality
  5. Empowerment, voice and choice
  6. Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues

From SAMHSA’s perspective, it is critical to promote the linkage to recovery and resilience for those individuals and families impacted by trauma. This makes sense, doesn’t it? It is one thing to recognize when someone in your church or ministry setting has deep woundedness. It is something entirely different to equip yourself and your ministry team to be able to bring healing and hope to that individual or family system.

So, should you and your ministry be interested in exploring becoming “trauma informed,” here are some points of connection I see between the 4-point definition of a trauma informed approach above, as well as a proposed ministry definition of the 6 key points. First, we will reframe the definition within the context of ministry.

A Trauma-Informed Ministry intentionally shapes a culture within their worshipping community that:

  1. Realizes the widespread impact of trauma–those deeply distressing and emotional experiences that leave lasting effects–and provides practical ministry interventions as well as support for ongoing mental health interventions.
  2. Recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in the children, youth, men and women it ministers to as well as the effects that living with a traumatized individual has on all relationships–marriage, family, work, and social.
  3. Responds to the need within its worshipping community and the needs of its neighbors by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into church and ministry policies, procedures, and ministry practices. And,
  4. Seeks to actively resist re-traumatization that can occur when appropriate recognition and intervention is not wed with compassion and a commitment to stabilizing relationships and supportive structures that destigmatize mental health issues.

Intrigued? Here are some questions for ministry that address the needed six key principles to a trauma-informed approach:

  1. Safety: Not just physical safety, but emotional and relational safety as well. Is there structure in place that allows for vulnerable people to feel included and protected within the worshipping community?
  2. Trustworthiness and Transparency: Is authenticity a characteristic valued highly within your community of faith? Do those in ministry leadership appear as broken people in need of God’s grace, just as those they minister to? Are confidences kept?
  3. Peer support: Does the church go beyond being friendly to being a place someone can make friendships? Can a traumatized person find a listening ear and a welcome with others that are walking the same road to recovery, grace, and love of self and others? Can this happen both in large group and small group settings? Are ministry leaders modeling self-care through their personal practices?
  4. Collaboration and mutuality: Does the church view its ministry to victimized people, traumatized individuals, and vulnerable children as integral to its call to Kingdom work for God or is it simply a niche ministry? Can the church work with others, even across ideological and denominational lines, for the betterment of hurting people?
  5. Empowerment, voice and choice: Are those that are ministered to also given opportunity and empowered to minister within the church, understanding that they bring value and wisdom to the worshipping community? Are they fully integrated into the life of the church and given a voice for self-advocacy as well as outreach and mission?
  6. Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues: Does the church recognize the unique cultural issues sometimes bound up with trauma? Within the context of what has defined your worshipping community, is there room for the expression of faith and practice in ways that honor the unique cultural, historical, and gender backgrounds of those you seek to serve?

As you can see, I have purposefully borrowed the structure and language of SAMHSA’s definitions and guidelines so that a church hoping to become “trauma-informed” can speak the same language as those in the educational, mental health, medical or other fields also working to be trauma-informed. Purposefully seek out those within your church who can connect you to resources and expertise outside the church. As you build those bridges to those outside the church, you will help your ministry strengthen and grow!

© Chaplain Chris Haughee, 2016                    www.intermountainministry.org

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Yes, Chris.  That is the next step for someone who has found healing.  They have lived through trauma and damage, so, in my belief, they are highly qualified to move forward and "use their pain for good."  We find in our participants, that after finding that healing, they then feel much more worthy and accepted wherever they go, including the church.

Concerning Chained No More participants, we sometimes have them come in and observe the next set of classes, share a little of their journey of healing, and then, if they are interested, they become class assistants.  Their perspective is so valuable.  We also have them share their journey with other groups in the church and they find where they like to serve in other areas, as well.  Perfect!

Love it, Robyn! I share your passion. Of what I wrote, here's where I feel the crux of the matter lies... moving from advocacy for to advocacy with and empowerment of those with past (and present) trauma:

Empowerment, voice and choice: Are those that are ministered to also given opportunity and empowered to minister within the church, understanding that they bring value and wisdom to the worshipping community? Are they fully integrated into the life of the church and given a voice for self-advocacy as well as outreach and mission?

I am the author of "Chained No  More...A  Journey of Healing for Adult Children of Divorce/Childhood Brokenness."  I did not grow up in a horribly dysfunctional home, did not divorce, or have divorced parents.  I did not suffer from abuse, although I had other issues growing up in a pastor's home.  

It used to be that we all kept our "family business" private, so never really discussed it, nor did we heal from it, so we took it forward into our adult lives.  Churches proclaimed the gospel and gave a lot of Scriptural answers, however, we did  not specifically help people address their issues and the damage from them on an honest and deep level.  We left that to the medical and mental health professionals.

Writing "Chained No More", holding classes and ministering to so many over the internet, I see how important it is for hurting people to be able to be honest about their damage, see the power of that damage, find healing and then be given and helping them implement practical tools to move them forward in a healthier and more joyful way.

I believe it takes a lot more than just a touch, "in the name of Jesus," at a big event to find deep healing.  We need to do the hard work by truly getting to the core of the damage, looking it straight in the face, determining the power of those experiences have had on our relationships, decisions, self-worth, and lifestyle, before we can truly accept and absorb God's acceptance, healing, and love.

I have attended many conference, conventions, workshops, symposiums, etc. to learn about various damage we live, so that I could be as effective in ministry as possible.   Since I didn't live it firsthand, I had better learn about it from people who get it, and not always from reading a book.  We need to stop glossing over deep damage with memorized Scripture and really find out, as the Church, about the different levels of the damage; how it affects an individual and families today,  then we can lead them to the Word for spiritual answers.

That is what the Chained No More Talk Radio show is all about.  We try to bring Christian expert guests onto the show to help us learn about a wide variety of issues people in our country and around the world live today.  No more "pat Christian answers!"  We MUST become safe, non-judgmental trauma-informed churches with open arms.

 I have another friend that has developed a program called "Chained No More." This program is run in churches and is about breaking the chains from childhood. My friend, Robyn Bessemann didn't know much about trauma in the beginning but after  lot of study, being raised in a minister's home and ministering to kids and  youth of divorce she learned. The Lord impressed upon her to write this program. http://robynbministries.com/chained-no-more/ 

She also now has an Internet radio show where is interviews many pastors, ministers, etc. She's done interviews on child abuse, incarcerated parents, breaking the chains of shame and guilt. I did one on grandparenting through divorce on her show last June and it has over half million downloads at this time. 

Whatever happens with trauma-informed churches Robyn needs to be a part of it. 

Dale Fletcher posted:

Thanks for this post Chris. I also agree with what you've written. If what you've captured is the essence of the phrase 'trauma-informed,' Then I think we need to go one step further in ministry and that is to make available options for traumatized congregants to receive healing. Options such as Linda Jacobs is offering at her church. For Christian church communities, this is an opportunity for people too experience the healing balm of Jesus Christ.

So, yes, people in faith communities and ministries need to be informed of this issue, but also should make available opportunities for those affected to receive healing in the minds, emotions, behaviors and bodies.

Thanks for the mention! 

Hi Sandy... A lot to respond to and I want to give your comments and questions the honor of the appropriate level of prayer and thought before giving a substantive response. Maybe a phone call would work better? If you are interested, send me a private message! Thanks.

These are all nice theories and truly look good in a vacuum.

but people who've been impacted by ACEs are not "waiting in the wings" for somebody to put together a "trauma informed" ministry.

People already exist.

Its not "oh gee, let's do trauma informed ministry! Yippee!"

For people with ACEs its, "we've been mistreated for YEARS"

Talk with people actively engaged in the 'consumer' movement. Churches really "big" on 'social justice' issues, on "ministry" issues, either embrace the "disease" model (NAMI), fervently believe they have no people in need of such recognition, or simply look straight past as though they truly don't care because they want to create racial or economic justice. 

One simply can't build this nice, wonderful "trauma informed ministry" unless one first looks soberly at the realities in local and national churches today. 

Talk with the men and women who've already been active in mental health ministries as consumers. Listen to what needs to be dismantled. What "mold" needs to be searched for and eradicated.

We who know ACEs from the inside (and who know churches from both the inside and outside) need to be heard. Talk WITH us, not "about" us. We have been in this 'battle' way before ACEs came on stage.

The following was in this month's church newsletter. 

"... "... Many years ago one of my parishioners came to see me because he could not shake a nagging feeling of anxiety and depression. Through the pastoral counseling process I also discovered that he had a heart condition. As I asked him questions to better understand what had happened in his life that could have triggered such physical and emotional symptoms he revealed that his mother had left his family on Christmas Eve as a child. He understood perfectly the connection between his symptoms and the emotional pain of his life events. Despite connecting the psycho-emotional dots he was not willing to forgive and let go of the anger and resentment inside. He added “I want to be angry at her even though it is at the cost of my health.” His improvement was small because he wanted to hold on to the old. When we choose to let go of the old we can make great progress and hopefully alleviate some if not all of our emotional and physical challenges.... We all have struggles it’s called life. While it is true that some challenges are harder than others, this only means that we have to work harder at letting go. We are all being guided through the learning process of figuring out life by overcoming its challenges; this is part of our earthly journey...."

What would yousay/do to help the minister understand trauma?

 

Thanks for this post Chris. I also agree with what you've written. If what you've captured is the essence of the phrase 'trauma-informed,' Then I think we need to go one step further in ministry and that is to make available options for traumatized congregants to receive healing. Options such as Linda Jacobs is offering at her church. For Christian church communities, this is an opportunity for people too experience the healing balm of Jesus Christ.

So, yes, people in faith communities and ministries need to be informed of this issue, but also should make available opportunities for those affected to receive healing in the minds, emotions, behaviors and bodies.

You are welcome, Linda...

I am still getting the hang of just how to best maneuver ACEs Connection and both find and post things in the appropriate places! I am glad you liked the article.

 

Chris

Hi everyone... I think I mistakenly posted this on the main blog, which gets flooded with entries and things get lost fast! So, I reposted here in case any of the faith-based folks missed it last week. Blessings, Chris

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