How We Heal

Course Cut-OutMoving Through Trauma
Written By Austin Cavaliere

If you need help seeing Jesus in the middle of your struggle, or just feel like you are stuck, ready to move into growth and healing, connect with a Christian coach.

Excerpt: How We Heal - Trauma Session 5

Course: Moving Through Trauma

Speakers: Matthias Barker, Cathy Loerzel

The Arc of Healing: Witnessing, Reconstructing, and Releasing Trauma

We've laid a foundation by understanding how trauma impacts the brain and body, and the crucial role of resilience factors like safety, problem-solving, and connection. Now, let's look at the overarching journey of healing from trauma, the landmarks to watch for as you navigate this process. This isn't a step-by-step guide for self-healing, but rather an informative overview to support you as you engage in therapy, support groups, or conversations with trusted mentors.

Stage 1: Witnessing and Constructing the Story

The first stage involves revisiting and sharing the story of the traumatic event. This isn't about reliving the trauma with the same overwhelming intensity, but rather approaching it as an adult, as someone with resources and strength, coming alongside the part of you that holds the emotional wound. Think of it like tending to a child who has fallen, not falling alongside them. A key indicator of moving too quickly is feeling re-traumatized – panic, nightmares, intense physical reactions. If this happens, it's crucial to return to a place of calm and safety before continuing. Revisiting the story is about re-evaluating from a place of strength and offering the nurture and safety that may have been absent during the traumatic event.

Stage 2: Reconstruction and Insight

The second stage involves seeing the event in a new light, gaining a different perspective. This often happens through vulnerable sharing with trusted individuals like therapists or mentors. By talking about the story – not reliving it, but coming alongside the wounded part of ourselves – we begin to examine how the experience has shaped our worldview and self-perception. This can uncover deep-seated beliefs that have been driving unhelpful patterns in our lives, such as difficulties with boundaries, people-pleasing tendencies, emotional numbing, or relationship sabotage. These surface issues often stem from core beliefs cemented by trauma, like "I'm not good enough" or "My needs don't matter." Through relationship, we can gain insight into these self-reinforcing beliefs and begin to update these old narratives. Often, the very strategies we developed to protect ourselves after trauma can paradoxically lead to the outcomes we were trying to avoid, and relationship helps illuminate these patterns.

Stage 3: Release and Integration

The final stage involves a sense of release, an integration of the experience. This isn't just an intellectual understanding but a felt sense in the body. Practices like dance therapy, hot yoga, and other body-centered approaches can be incredibly helpful here. One powerful example involves war-affected youth sharing their stories within a supportive community, and when agitation arises, engaging in a tribal dance together until calm is restored. This allows for the dispersal of fear and the creation of shared meaning. Similarly, martial arts can empower survivors of assault, allowing them to revisit feelings of vulnerability with a newfound sense of agency. This stage is about the nervous system relearning and releasing the held tension and fear, infusing power and autonomy into the space of vulnerability. Within a faith context, worship can also provide a safe space to process trauma, offering vulnerability, calm, and the experience of divine strength and love in the face of wounds.

The Ongoing Journey of Healing

The arc of healing involves witnessing, reconstructing, and releasing. While the journey has its complexities, the good news is that trauma doesn't have to be the end of your story. Healing occurs through relationship, even though it's often in relationships where we are most deeply hurt. Just as we can't see our own faces without a reflection, we often need the reflection and support of others to truly see and heal our wounds. Stepping into the truth of our stories, even the painful parts, can lead to profound relief and integration, connecting our body's knowing with our conscious understanding. While complete healing may not be fully realized in this lifetime, the journey towards greater wholeness allows us to not only heal ourselves but also become a source of healing for others. The path involves acknowledging the grief and pain, knowing that it is not the final chapter, and moving towards a future of greater connection and integration.

 

If you like the content, you can continue in a few different ways…

  • 1) See the outline below and check out other sections from the FFP course.

  • 2) Take the full small group course to your church community! The first course your church runs is free! Reach out to us here to learn how.

  • 3) Connect with a Share The Struggle Coach for one-on-one support. Let’s face it, some of us have tried kicking this thing, and we’ve had no luck. It’s time to start looking toward forms of support that can help us see and feel the beautiful life God has in store for us.

 

Moving Through Trauma

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Moving Through Trauma 〰️

Session 1

Session 2

Session 3

Session 4

Session 5

Session 6

Session 7

Session 8

 

Share The Struggle Courses

Share the Struggle Courses are topical expert led video courses to help you understand life’s greatest struggles and provide you with tools for navigating them. Moreover, STS courses create a space for you to connect with others struggling with similar things, experience belonging, and encounter God’s nearness in a place of wilderness in your life (pain, confusion, healing journey). Want to start a group at your church? Reach out to us here to learn how.

 

What Share The Struggle Believes

Here at Share The Struggle we believe Jesus is present with us in the middle of our pain and mess, and it is in that place that we often experience and encounter Jesus most deeply.

We understand the unique challenges faced by Christians dealing with mental health. Our mission is to bridge the gap between faith and mental health support, providing a platform where individuals can find resources, coaching support and guidance, all tailored to their spiritual life and emotional needs.

We invite you to explore our resources, share your journey, and find the support you need to overcome the struggles you face.

Austin Cavaliere
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