Trauma

A significant shift is happening with the Christian community we we continue growing in our understanding of trauma, it's multidimensional impact, and the importance of developing a trauma-informed approach in walking alongside each other. At the same time, on a grass-roots level, those in authentic sexual addiction recovery and betrayed partners active in their healing journey are speaking out and sharing their stories within AND without their church walls. In doing so, we become part of Christ’s ongoing Spirit-breathed kingdom work. 

Was Jesus' ministry trauma-informed?

In the first of a three-part series related to a trauma-informed approach to ministry, Chaplain Chris Haughee (ACES Connection) states: "A trauma-informed approach to ministry starts with the realization of the widespread impact of trauma. Certainly, if a church or ministry is not aware or is in denial of the problem posed by adversity in childhood, toxic stress, and the effects of trauma on whose they minister too, it cannot properly address potential paths for recovery and healing.

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I believe it can be shown that Jesus was trauma-informed through any and all of these points, but especially this first one. Jesus knew the tremendous brokenness of the world, and he knew the power of the Kingdom of Heaven to address the needs of people traumatized by the evil of this world and the effect of sin. This idea comes forth in the first words we hear spoken by Jesus, and an important teaching which announced the beginning of his formal ministry."

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Trauma: A Biblical perspective

The Biblical Perspective Of Trauma Informed Care

Reading the Bible through the lens of trauma

Becoming a trauma-informed faith community

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Books

• Healing from Trauma (A Survivor’s Guide to Understanding Your Symptoms and Reclaiming Your Life) Jasmin Lee Cori, MS, LPC

• Healing the Wounds of Trauma (How the Church Can Help) Harriet Hill, Margaret Hill, Richard Bagge, Pat Miersma

• Shattered Soul? (Five Pathways to Healing the Spirit After Abuse & Trauma) Patrick Fleming with Sue-Lauber-Fleming & Vicki Schmidt)

• Spirit and Trauma: A Theology of Remaining, Shelly Rambo

• Suffering and the Heart of God (How Trauma Destroys and Christ Restores) Dr. Diane Langberg

• The Body Keeps the Score Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma Bessel van der Kolk MD

• The Complete Guide to Crisis & Trauma Counseling (What to Do and Say When it Matters Most) Dr. H Norman Wright

• The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris

• The Story You Need To Tell Writing to Heal From Trauma, Illness, or Loss Sandra Marinella, MA, MEd

• Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror Judith Herman

• Trauma + Grace (Theology in a Ruptured World), Serene Jones

• Trauma-Sensitive Theology: Thinking Theologically in the Era of Trauma, Jennifer Baldwin

• When Trauma Wounds, Pathways to Healing and Hope, Karen A McClintock

• Writing to Heal (A Guided Journal for Recovering from Trauma & Emotional Upheaval, James W Pennebaker, Ph.D.

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(Adults)

• Sexual Addiction/Brokenness

• Grief/loss

• Healthy Sexuality

• Sexual betrayal/healing

• Relationships

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• 101 Freedom Exercises, Doug Weiss

• A Man's Tool for Betrayal, Sibyelle Georgianna

• Aftermath of Betrayal, Michelle Mays

• After the Affair, Janis Abrahms Spring

• An Affair of the Mind, Laurie Hall

• Anatomy of the Soul (Surprising connections between neuroscience and spiritual practices that can transform your life and relationships) Curt Thompson, M.D.

• Ashamed No More, Dr. T.C. Ryan

• Beyond Betrayal: How God is Healing Women (and couples) from Infidelity, Lisa Taylor

  • Beyond Betrayal Couple’s Guide Lisa Taylor

• Beyond Boundaries (Learning to Trust Again in Relationships), Dr. John Townsend

• Blind to Betrayal Why we Fool Ourselves We Aren’t Being Fooled, Jennifer Freyd and Pamela Birrell

• Breaking Free: Understanding Sexual Addiction & the Healing Power of Jesus, Russell Willingham

• Boundaries in Marriage, Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

• Changes That Heal (Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You), Dr. Henry Cloud

  • (Accompanying workbook)

• Confronting Porn, Paula Hall

• Couples Guide to Intimacy, Drs. Bill & Ginger Bercaw

• Created for Connection: The "Hold Me Tight" Guide for Christian Couples, Sue Johnson

• Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, Brené Brown

• Facing Heartbreak (Steps to Recovery for Partners of Sex Addicts), Stefanie Carnes, Maria Lee, Anthony Rodriguez

• Forgetting Your Past, Bob Gass

• From Betrayal Trauma to Healing & Joy: A Workbook for Partners of Sex Addicts, Marsha Means

• Full Disclosure: Seeking Truth After Sexual Betrayal: Volume 1: How Disclosure Can Help You Heal, Janice Caudill, Dan Drake

• A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows through Loss, Jerry L. Sittser

• How to Share the Truth After Sexual Betrayal Dan Drake and Janice Caudill

• Grace-Based Recovery (A Safe Place to Heal and Grow) Jonathan Daugherty

• Help Her Heal: An Empathy Workbook for Sex Addicts to Help their Partners Heal Carol Jurgensen Sheets

• Help. Them. Heal: Teaching You Both How to Heal Your Relationship After Sexual Betrayal, Carol Jurgensen Sheets

• Healthy Boundaries: Learning to Understand and Keep Boundaries after Betrayal, Dan Drake, Katie Sanford, Julia Alperovich, Eric Anderson

• Hiding from Love (How to Change the Withdrawal Patterns hat Isolate and Imprison You) Dr. John Townsend

• Hold Me Tight, Dr. Sue Johnson

• How to Help Your Spouse Heal from Your Affair: A Compact Manual for the Unfaithful, Linda J MacDonald

• How We Love Workbook: Making Deeper Connections in Marriage Milan Yerkovich and Kay Yerkovich

• Keep Walking (40 days to Hope and Freedom after Betrayal), Lynn Marie Cherry

• Intimacy Anorexia: The Hidden Addiction in Your Marriage, Doug Weiss

• Intimate Deception: Healing the Wounds of Sexual Betrayal Dr. Sheri Keffer

• Intimate Treason (Healing the Trauma for Partners Confronting Sex Addiction) Claudia Black, Cara Tripodi

• Life After Lust (Stories & Strategies for Sex & Pornography Addiction Recovery) Forest Benedict, LMFT, SATP

• Living and Loving after Betrayal: How to Heal from Emotional Abuse, Deceit, Infidelity, and Chronic Resentment, Steven Stosny, PhD.

• Longing for Intimacy (Hope for Women Struggling with Addiction), Amy Riordan

• Love Sense, Dr. Sue Johnson

• Love Talk Starters (275 questions to Get Your Conversations Going), Les & Leslie Parrot

• Loving People: How to Love and Be Loved, Dr. John Townsend

• Married and Alone, Doug Weiss

• Moving Beyond Betrayal (The 5 Step Boundary Solution for Partners of Sex Addicts), Vicki Tidwell Palmer

• Necessary Endings, Henry Cloud

• No Stones: Women Redeemed from Sexual Addiction, Marnie Ferree

• NOT "Just Friends": Rebuilding Trust and Recovering Your Sanity After Infidelity, Shirley Glass

• Out of the Shadows (Understanding Sexual Addiction), Patrick Carnes

• Pure Desire, Ted Roberts and Steve Arterburn

• Pure Sex: The Spirituality of Desire, Gordon Dalbey

• Redeemed Sexuality (Healing and Transformation in Community, Andrew A Boa

• Rescued, A Woman's Guide to Surviving and Thriving After Sexual Betrayal, Shelley Martinkus

• Restored: A Woman's Guide to Overcoming Pornography, Alice Taylor

• Sex Addiction 101, Rob Weiss

• Sexuality (God’s Design and Why it Matters), Dr. Juli Slattery

• Safe People: How to Relationships That Are Good for You and Avoid Those That Aren’t, Henry, Cloud and John Townsend

• Samson and the Pirate Monks: Calling Men to Authentic Brotherhood, Nate Larkin

• Seven Pillars of Freedom Workbook, Dr. Ted Roberts

• Sex Addiction: The Partner’s Perspective: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Surviving Sex Addiction and Those Who Want to Help Them, Paula Hall

• Surfing for God (Discovering the Divine Desire Beneath Sexual Struggle), Michael John Cusick

• Sons of the Father, Gordon Dalbey

• Starting Over (Meditations for Divorced Women), Ellen Sue Stern

• Stop Sex Addiction: Real Hope, True Freedom for Sex Addicts and Partners, Milton Magness

• Surviving Disclosure: A Partner’s Guide for Healing the Betrayal of Intimate Trus, Jennifer P Schneider and Deborah Corley

• The Best Sex for Life, Patricia Weerakoon

• The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, Bessel van der Kolk M.D.

• The Couple's Guide to Intimacy: How Sexual Reintegration Therapy Can Help Your Relationship Heal, Bercaw, PsyD, CST, CSAT, Drs. Bill and Ginger

• The Dance of Anger: A Women's Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships, Harriet Lerner

• The Five Love Languages (How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate), Gary Chapman

• The Gaslight Effect, Robin Stern

• The Gift of Sex, Clifford and Joyce Penner

• The Great Sex Rescue: The Lies You’ve Been Taught and How to Recover What God Intended, Sheila Wray Gregoire, Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach

• The Journey from Abandonment to Healing: Surviving Through and Recovering from the Five Stages that Accompany the Loss of Love, Susan Anderson

• The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide, John Gottman, Jan Silver

• The Secret Sexual Basement: The Traumatic Impacts of Deceptive Sexuality on the Intimate Partner and Relationship, Omar Minwalla

• The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves, Curt Thompson, M.D.

• To Be Told: Know Your Story, Shape Your Future, Dan B. Allender

• Treating Pornography Addiction: The Essential Tools for Recovery Dr. Kevin Skinner

• Treating Trauma from Sexual Betrayal (The Essential Tools for Healing), Dr. Kevin Skinner

• Unleashing Your Power: Moving Through the Trauma of Partner Betrayal, Carol Jurgensen Sheets

• Unwanted, How Sexual Brokenness Reveals our Way to Healing, Jay Stringer

• Unattended Sorrow, Stephen Levine

• Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma, Peter A. Levine

• We Survived Infidelity: An Unexpected Life Lesson, Hilarie Barry

• When Your Husband is Addicted to Pornography, After the Shock – Moving from Despair to Healing and Hope, Vickie Tiede

• Who’s Pushing Your Buttons? Handling the Difficult People in Your Life, Dr. John Townsend

• When Sorry Isn’t Enough, Gary Chapman and Jennifer Thomas

• Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men, Lundy Bancroft

• Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain, Dr. William Struthers

• Wired for Love: How Understanding Your Partner's Brain and Attachment Style Can Help You Defuse Conflict and Build a Secure Relationship, Stan Tatkin

• Worthy of Her Trust: What You Need to Do to Rebuild Sexual Integrity and Win Her Back ,Jason B. Martinkus

• Your Sexually Addicted Spouse: How Partners Can Cope and Heal, Dr. Barbara Steffens and Marsha Means

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Children/Youth

Books

• Every Young Woman’s Battle: Guarding Your Mind, Heart, and Body in a Sex-Saturated World Shannon Ethridge and Stephen Arterburn

• Get Lost: Your Guide to True Love Dannah Gresh

• Good Pictures, Bad Pictures Kristen A. Jenson and Gail Poyner

• Growing Up by the Book (ages 10–14) Patricia Weerakoon

• Teen Sex by the Book (ages 14+) Patricia Weerakoon

• There’s What on my Phone? (How God’s Good Gifts Beats Porn) Lisa Taylor

• Who Moved the Goal Post? Bob and Dannah Gresh