Treating Trauma in Christian Counseling

Heather Davediuk Gingrich is a counselor, scholar, teacher, and former missionary. She is professor of counseling at Denver Seminary and maintains a small private practice working with complex trauma survivors. She is the author of Restoring the Shattered Self and coauthor of Skills for Effective Counseling. Fred C. Gingrich is professor of counseling at Denver Seminary and served as division chair from 2007 to 2015. He practiced and taught in Ontario for fourteen years prior to directing MA and EdD degrees in counseling at seminaries in the Philippines. He is the coauthor of Skills for Effective Counseling.

Introduction (Heather D. Gingrich and Fred C. Gingrich)



Part I: Foundational Perspectives on Trauma


1. The Crucial Role of Christian Counseling Approaches in Trauma Counseling (Fred C. Gingrich and Heather D. Gingrich)

2. Theological Perspectives on Trauma: Human Flourishing After the Fall (Richard Langer, Jason McMartin, and M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall)

3. The Neurobiology of Stress and Trauma (William M. Struthers, Kerryn Ansell, and Adam Wilson)

4. Trauma, Faith, and Care for the Counselor (Cynthia B. Eriksson, Ashley M. Wilkins, and Nikki Frederick)



Part II: Interpersonal Contexts of Trauma


5. A Developmentally Appropriate Treatment Approach for Traumatized Children and Adolescents (Daniel S. Sweeney and Madeline Lowen)

6. Treating Sexual Trauma Through Couples Therapy (Debra Taylor)

7. Assessment and Treatment of Intimate Partner Violence: Integrating Psychological and Spiritual Approaches (Terri S. Watson)

8. Strengthening Family Resilience to Trauma (Fred C. Gingrich)

9. Responding to Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse (David K. Pooler and Amanda Frey)



Part III: Complex Trauma and Dissociation


10. Beyond Survival: Application of a Complex Trauma Treatment Model in the Christian Context (Jana Pressley and Joseph Spinazzola)

11. Sexual Abuse and Dissociative Disorders (Heather D. Gingrich)

12 The Treatment of Ritual Abuse and Mind Control (Alison Miller and Heather D. Gingrich)

13. Sex Trafficking: A Counseling Perspective (Shannon Wolf)



Part IV: Global Contexts of Trauma


14. Faith and Disaster Mental Health: Research, Theology, and Practice (Jamie D. Aten, Alice Schruba, David N. Entwistle, Edward B. Davis, Jenn Ranter, Jenny Hwang, Joshua N. Hook, David C. Wang, Don E. Davis, and Daryl R. Van Tongeren)

15. Improving Trauma Care in Developing Nations: Partnerships over Projects (Phil Monroe and Diane Langberg)

16. Trauma Counseling for Missionaries: How to Support Resilience (Karen F. Carr)

17. Preventing and Treating Combat Trauma and Spiritual Injury (Laura Schwent Shultz, Jesse D. Malott, and Robert J. Gregory)



Part V: Conclusion and Appendix


18. Reflections on Christian Counseling's Engagement with Trauma (Heather D. Gingrich and Fred C. Gingrich)



Appendix: Religion, Spirituality, and Trauma: An Annotated Bibliography (Fred C. Gingrich)

List of Contributors

Author Index

Subject Index