Page 87 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 12

Gladys Mwiti (Kenya)
Comment to Trauma and Gladys Mwiti,
Psy-
Clinical
Christian Identity chologist, PHD,
is a specialist
Logan’s Trauma and Christian Identity is right on in Trauma He-
the mark. The destructive power of vicarious trau- aling and Re-
ma lies in its ability to stealthily transform the iden- covery with
tity of the Helper. One is often not aware that the over 20 years
empathic engagement with traumatized clients and experience. An
their reports of traumatic experiences is disruptive author, Current
to one’s own psyche and spirit. There is disrupted chairperson of the Kenya Psychological
hope, where as hope is provided, the question of Association, interim chairperson of the Ke-
Why the Trauma does not make sense. Disrupted nya Society for Traumatic Stress Studies,
hope and the Why question lead to disrupted spiri- a member of the American Psychological
tuality and disrupted meaning. Existential questi- Association, and member of the Board of
ons arise with each traumatized client and become Directors for the International Society for
deeper with trauma severity and complexity. The Traumatic Stress Studies and CEO Oasis
disruption in the trauma Helper layers itself on the Africa.
whole person – impacting the body with exhau-
stion; the mind with confused meanings of God’s
care, grace, love and protection; and the spirit with
the exhaustion of challenged hope and tested pro-
mises of God’s presence and proficiency. Other
factors begin to erode the certainty of identity. The
helper should be part of a caring body of other be-
lievers – a house of faith and hope. However, trau-
ma has the capacity to distance the helper from
this bedrock of wellness. Most of the time, shared that recovery from vicarious trauma must begin
trauma and its details is spoken largely within the with recovery of the helper’s identity in Christ –
promise of confidentiality, and even professional as All this is to agree with Logan that for healing
supervision cannot deal with deep impact of that from vicarious trauma especially among Chri-
inner pain from the client. Over time, drops of stian helpers, addressing the spiritual discipline
distress infuse into the helper’s identity and begin of rebuilding faith and dependence upon Jesus
to cloud meaning. The settling of vicarious trauma Christ should go alongside trauma healing.
into the identity of the helper can be worsened by This is because failure to return to the place of
not only lack supervision where none is availed or rest, prayer, sense of calling and identity in that
sought, but by the helper’s state of possible pres- calling will certainly not restore the former joy
ence of personal brokennesss and pain as well as of serving the wounded. The Christian helper
their level of wellness and self-care. The dark night must see Jesus Christ as Lord – who calls, em-
of the soul can come more stealthily and quickly powers, heals and restores – that in as much as
than the helper ever envisaged or imagined. It can we may never understand the WHY of trauma
also lead to despair, helplessness and burnout. The and pain, we know WHO is in charge of us and
dark night of the soul can also threaten the Christi- our world. We can return to this place of rest
an helper’s dependence on God. That love for those and receive our healing, refreshing and calling
who suffer begins to become abhorrence for their once again. This is the central source of Chri-
pain because the joy of service is challenged by the stian Identity and sustainability in trauma care.
failing inner strength and meaning of service. Dis- Our small springs of the water of life will con-
connecting with the meaning of care leads to more tinue to flow if we are connected to the River of
loss of the helper’s Christian identity. This means Life.
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