Helping Clients Discover and Re-Connect with their Spirituality as they Heal from Trauma
In this three hour training, co-led by Rabbi Goldberger and Lisa Ferentz, we will process the benefits of incorporating faith, spirituality and/or religious traditions into a trauma survivor’s healing work. We will explore the ways in which spirituality can impact short and long-term healing outcomes. We will identify and discuss common therapy themes including: using a client’s existing sense of faith to assist in the healing process; helping clients who struggle with a loss of faith that may or may not be trauma-based; working with clients who feel angry at G-d; helping clients who feel betrayed by G-d; and broaching the subject with clients who have never felt spiritually connected. We will explore the ways in which spirituality and faith can help clients move beyond their trauma, recognizing that even “struggling” with faith can be growth-producing. In addition, we will process the criteria that should be on board when clients or clinicians choose to incorporate clergy into treatment so the work stays reparative rather than re-traumatizing. Participants will have the opportunity to process clinical case examples and will be encouraged to supply their own clinical anecdotes as we explore the ways in which conversations about spirituality effect the therapeutic alliance as well as the trauma survivor’s healing journey.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the similarities and differences between spirituality, faith and religion
- Describe the short and long-term impact that spirituality and faith have on a trauma survivor’s healing.
- Identify at least five “spiritual” issues that surface for trauma survivors during the course of therapy.
- Identify at least three criteria that should be present in clergy who offer their services as a part of a client’s healing work.
View our calendar and register for classes by clicking here.
