Page 201 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 5

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

losses of identity but they also suffer from the paint a life story as one of constant failure. Even
additions of shame, anger, anxiety, hopelessness as a Christian, this person may only see how
and the like. The core of trauma recovery then, they fail God due to their ongoing anxieties.
is an examination of the victim’s story, how it Upon exploration, the counselor may discover
has indeed changed and distorted the person’s that this life theme comes from the perpetrator,
personal narrative and identity, and how the- even influencing how they “hear” Jesus as irri-
se may be properly re-formed in light of God’s tated and angry as he talks about fear and worry
overarching narrative for his image bearers. (Luke 12). Counselors face a significant hurdle
4 What follows is a review of some of the chal- in identifying the “voices” in a client’s trauma
lenges to telling the trauma influenced story as story.
well as some guidelines for counselors.
Whose voice gets priority? Trauma victim sto-
Challenges to Telling the Trauma Story ries are easily distorted by the lies of the perpe-
If life is a narrative then trauma forms a chap- trator and the presence of shame, loss of identi-
ter in that story. A person experiencing chro- ty, etc. Thus, it can be tempting for counselors to
nic trauma symptoms is trapped in the trauma push a new narrative more in line with a bibli-
chapter. It is as if their book (life) only contains cal perspective. A counselor may say something
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that one terrible chapter. The person keeps like “You feel like damaged goods but you are
trying to avoid reading the chapter by placing prized by God.” Though true, telling someo-
the book on a shelf out of sight. However, the ne how to interpret their story rarely leads to
book keeps falling off the shelf, opening to the lasting change, especially when done early in
trauma chapter and only to those pages that therapy. Rather, it often creates passive listeners
contain the worst part of it. It is as if nothing who may assent to God’s narrative but not own
existed before or after these traumatic events. it as their own. As a result, counselors ought to
When healing happens, the victim is able to consider how God interacts with many distor-
place the trauma chapter back into the larger ted perspectives. Note that God asks people to
context of the story, is able to look at the trauma explain their situation. He asks Adam and Eve
chapter with eyes to see parts of the particular where they are and what has happened (Genesis
story pointing to survival, resilience, and even 3). Similarly, Jesus engages the woman at a well
protection. The victim may even be able to see (John 4), the woman caught in adultery (John
how new chapters will be written. 8), and the woman who touched him (Luke 8)
We will now explore several barriers standing in with questions in order to draw them out even
the way of this picture of healing. though he knew their stories. Good trauma re-
covery invites the victim to choose how to ex-
Who are the actual storytellers? Re-writing press the story of trauma and loss. Counselors
a personal narrative requires the telling of the must develop patient listening skills when cli-
traumatic story. But who is actually telling the ents express obvious distorted views of self and
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story when a client recounts life history? even of God.
There is another reason counselors must be
What the counselor hears may be the words of a wary of jumping in too soon to give a counselee
parent, pastor, perpetrator, or reflect communi- the “right” story. Consider Job’s counselors who
ty norms. For example, a child abuse victim may listen for seven days but then resort to provi-

4 While all of Scripture tells the story of God’s relation- ding a false narrative and for speaking for God
ship with his people through the lens of creation, fall, and without authority. Job may have been embitte-
redemption, Deuteronomy and Hebrews paint the clea- red and demanding but it was his friends who
rest images our rescue and redemption narrative. received the greatest rebuke for failing to speak
5 My rendition of an illustration first heard from Edna the truth. Counselors, too, face the possibility
Foa describing her work with Prolonged Exposure treat-
ment of PTSD. to speaking for God falsely, especially when cli-
6 “ Telling” is not limited to speaking and writing. It may ents speak only of their pain and suffering.
also include artistic renditions such as dance, music, pic-
tures, and drawings.

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