What is a Trauma-Informed Church?

WHAT IS A TRAUMA-INFORMED CHURCH? WHAT IS TRAUMA?

Understanding Trauma
"Trauma comes in various forms, from childhood abuse to combat experiences, from natural disasters to relational betrayals. Its impact extends beyond the initial event, shaping individuals’ perceptions, behaviors, and spiritual lives. Trauma disrupts the very fabric of a person’s being, often manifesting as anxiety, depression, addiction, or relational difficulties. There are even concerns of vicarious trauma where counselors and pastors hear the pain and suffering of others, and in so doing, start to experience vicarious, or second-hand trauma, that has all the same symptoms of regular trauma.

Trauma from a clinical understanding is when we experience very stressful, frightening or distressing events that are difficult to cope with or out of our control. This manefests into symptoms of nightmares and/or flashbacks while we are awake, dissociation (problems with memory, sense of identity, the way the world is perceived and the connection to the physical body), mood swings, hypervigilance (the elevated state of constantly assessing potential threats around you), and avoiding people, places or things that bring these trauma memories back. Recognizing what trauma is is the first step toward building a church environment that fosters healing and understanding." Excerpt taken from https://churchandmentalhealth.com/trauma-informed-care-from-churches/  

What is a Trauma-Informed Church?

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.” 

As we launch Restore Church we will:

1. Get further education and training. 
2. Consult with experts, including current trauma-informed psychologists and counselors. (We have a connection with and already been   consulting with Laura Steele Psy. D, Dean, College of Psychology and Counseling; Professor of Psychology and Counseling, Hope International University, Fullerton.)
3. Speak with any church goers who have been impacted by trauma (and feel comfortable) to make sure their voices are heard.
4. Use what we have learned to then develop and form Restore Church's policies, procedures and practices.
5. Train other staff and volunteers on not just being trauma-informed but how to not actively re-traumatize others.

We want to create environments that make it easy for those who have been hurt in religious settings to feel comfortable coming. When God or the church have been used to manipulate, coerce, be the setting for abuse etc, things like just hearing a familiar worship song can be triggering. 

This may include having a special area for people to go that feels safe and non-threatening, having a counselor available to speak with anyone who may be feeling overwhelmed, to having special support groups for survivors of religious trauma and spiritual abuse.

If you have any further questions, please reach out to Pastor Caz at (909) 971-7103.