Page 175 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 5

Trauma Recovery Training at a Seminary? Introducing Global Trauma Recovery Institute

Mike Sheldon (Great Britain)
Response to the Article by

Philip Monroe, Trauma Recovery

Training

Trauma means quite different things to different
people. At one extreme we have the horrifying
scene of physical trauma after an accident, whe-
re the injured are physically scarred for life,
but often those who witness the scene and try
to help are also scarred psychologically. After a
traumatic death, such as a murder, family and Mike Sheldon (Great Britain) is an
friends may be severely affected as the grief and ex-General Practitioner. For several
loss can affect psychological balance for a long years, he and his family worked in
period of time. the mission field and in Christian
counseling.
We are increasingly recognising that serious life Much of his life he has been spent
events such as trauma affect us as whole peop- in the academic world, teaching
le, and so can have adverse effects physically, medical students about the art and
mentally, socially and spiritually. I suffered one science of General Practice. He is
serious accident in my life and so was physically now working mainly in developing
out of action for several months. But after about a Christian whole-person approach
a week I also realised that depression was setting to health care.
in and as I surveyed a bleak future this quickly
led to a spiritual depression where I more or less www.wphtrust.com
ceased functioning on all levels.

Verbal and psychological abuse and trauma are
also now recognised as being extremely serious
in some people, especially the young and vul- asking for miraculous healing can have severe
nerable. All people involved in counselling or un-intended side effects. In a whole-person cli-
any caring ministry therefore need to be fully nic I ran I would often deal with people who
trained to recognise the whole-person affects had felt abused by someone seeking to pray for
of trauma and be prepared to support and help them, and when no obvious positive effect was
recovery, often in a team approach where physi- witnessed putting the blame onto the sufferer
cal, psychological and spiritual help are all pro- for their lack of faith or un-confessed sin.
vided.
The Global Trauma Recovery Institute has been
In the United Kingdom there is a growing mo- born out of dealing with trauma in the third
vement to integrate training and practice bet- world and also with dealing with child abuse in
ween the medical and social practitioners and Christian contexts. Training and resources pro-
those providing pastoral support within the vided by them are informed by practical expe-
Church. It is also important for those seeking rience and are a vital resource for all Christians
to go out into the wider community in a missio- involved in caring and healing. I can warmly
nary role. It is important to recognise that Chri- recommend their resources and training which
stians may also inflict trauma themselves when are essential for all Christians seeking to help
seeking to help others. Praying for the sick and and support the suffering and needy.

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