Page 203 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 5

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

What purpose in re-storying? The ultimate ties after trauma. Facts and details form a jum-
purpose of examining one’s life story after trau- bled mess. Unfortunately, themes of guilt, an-
ma is to learn or experience anew one’s place ger, self-hatred, helplessness, and horror make
of honor in God’s divine story. However, this it difficult to make coherent sense. For example,
could sound like the primary purpose of Chri- a victim may blame self for the problem, praise
stian counseling is only to attain right belief their perpetrator, and then express hatred for
about self, God, and other. Using the imagery that same individual.
of acting coach and actor, Vanhoozer (2010, p. In order to develop a coherent storyline, the
10) leans in this direction when he states that story must be told over and over again, even
the role of the counselor is, “to help [counselee/ when it makes little sense. While repetition is
actors] render their character’s truthfully.” But inevitable, acceptance of mystery is also neces-
Chuck DeGroat calls us to consider more. He sary--some details, facts, and meanings will ne-
states that emphasizing intellectual understan- ver be clear. Indeed, even God’s sovereign story
ding of self before God misses other essential expressed in the Bible does not answer all our
story-forming components (2010). For examp- questions about suffering. Why does God choo-
le, honest lament not only expresses key diffi- se Israel to be his chosen people but not another
cult feelings but reminds Christians that they nation? Why does God take 400 years to hear
exist in relationship with a God who desires the cry of the enslaved Israelites in Egypt? The
to hear their complaints. Laments, like those overarching storyline of God and his kingdom
seen in Habakkuk (ch. 1-2) and Jeremiah (La- requires that we live with ambiguity in this life
mentations 3:1-18) are also helpful as they ack- even while we trust in the completion of the
nowledge losses that will not be replaced. Any story in Jesus Christ. Thus, the counselor faces
new narrative after trauma must include this the challenge of where to push for greater nar-
reality. In one exchange between a psychiatrist rative clarity, where to encourage acceptance of
and a genocide surviving patient, the psychia- mystery, and when to move beyond some repe-
trist stated, “You are fifty, not twenty-five. You titions.
will never be the person you were twenty-five
years ago. Even if you didn’t have trauma you The Counselor’s Guide to Supporting Good
would not be the same” (Lieblich & Boskailo, p. Trauma Telling
99) Acceptance of this reality enabled the client Having considered some of the key challenges
to move beyond rational description of ultima- to helping a victim process trauma experiences
te truth to expressing emotions in their rawest and assuming the presence of a solid trust rela-
form. Proper goals for therapy, then, focus not tionship between client and counselor, we now
merely on final truths about a victim’s position consider guiding principles for counselors and
before God but also valuing being present, ho- clients during the trauma processing portion of
nest, sometimes silent, sometimes crying for re- therapy.
lief in the midst of life this side of heaven.
Value the relationship most. The quality of
What to do with repetition? As Christians we the working relationship matters more than
learn to tell our life story in light of God’s sto- therapeutic techniques employed. When the
ry of creation, fall, and redemption. Narrating client tells a portion of the trauma story in a
our lives in this way requires much repetition safe place to a person who actively empathizes
and even becomes routine. Believers repeat and validates their experiences, the client will
songs and prayers, partake in rituals, and re- likely notice a reduction distressing symptoms.
read Scripture again and again. This repetition Counselors illustrate the value of the relation-
actually shapes the narrative we tell. Trauma ex- ship by maintaining clear boundaries (enabling
periences disrupt narratives and when a victim the client to predict future counselor behavior),
begins to put the story back together, it rarely allowing clients to choose counseling goals, and
forms a cohesive story. Victims struggle to pull by reminding the client that they are more than
together pre-trauma story lines with the reali- the sum total of their trauma symptoms.

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