The Case for Trauma-Informed Discipleship | Student Christian Movement

Trauma-informed discipleship: where to start.

To be trauma-informed is to understand any trauma inherently changes every aspect of a person’s development. Trauma will impact how people are able to engage with every aspect of their lives, including how they will ‘live faith out’. Trauma makes your brain go ‘I am in danger’, whether that threat is actualised or perceived and whether the threat is to physical, emotional, spiritual or any other safety. To be trauma-informed means to consciously consider the impact spaces and practices could have on a survivor of trauma. There are some well-established principles we can use when considering how discipleship can be trauma informed.

1: Safety

We are not able to survive and grow when we are still in a place, literal or metaphorical, where we are subject to active trauma. When considering if your discipleship is safe for you, and others, try to consider all aspects of safety. Is your discipleship physically accessible for all? Are physical dangers minimised and removed? Do you act knowing spiritual support is not the same as clinical therapy? Are you allowing yourself and others to experience all emotions without fear of danger resulting from expressing any? Are you safe to believe the absolute opposite of what someone else believes and express this? You might think only the obviously extreme practices are unsafe, but a trauma-informed view of discipleship would also understand, for some people, The Lord’s Prayer is unsafe, receiving communion is unsafe, stepping into a religious building is unsafe. Part of our individual discipleship practices should be about reflecting on what is unsafe for us personally, and reflecting on how we can work with this, without judgment or even trying to change this.

2: Trustworthiness

We know without trust we struggle to feel secure in our decisions, and many trauma-survivors will struggle to trust ourselves and others. Many religious people will be familiar with the teaching that our human bodies and minds are deceitful. We are taught to deny ourselves and trust only God, the same God we are told cannot be understood by this weak and fickle human mind. Do you know how to trust yourself?

Are intentions of religious spaces and practices transparent? Are there adequate procedures and protections in place to prevent and deal with corruption of power? Can everyone be held to account?

3: Peer Support

Many trauma-survivors will find themselves isolated. We have to find new communities with those who don’t feel like a threat. This view of peer support does not mean there is no opportunity to challenge people with their journeys, but this is done in a sensitive way, it comes from a basis of understanding and acceptance. And the challenge is only offered as an opportunity for the individual to grow and develop, accepting the individual can decline this invitation. For the trauma-survivor who finds shame in their desire for support, the image of Jesus pairing up his disciples at The Great Commission reassures no one is expected to do this alone. Sometimes it’s much easier to experience the support of God through others and Jesus knew we needed solidarity from the community to follow his example. Jesus was barely ever alone, the most important events of his life happened in community, with friends around him.

4: Collaboration and Empowerment

Collaboration must be approached, understanding all are equal, with all views and faith journeys given the opportunity to be shared. As Corinthians tells us, The Body of Christ is made of many parts, all as valuable as each other. Is leadership structured to enables all to contribute? Are decisions collective? Is everyone walking beside each other?

Empowerment may be an alien concept for trauma-survivors, especially in a religious setting. Do you practice giving yourself agency? Do you say no to what doesn’t feel good to you? Can you take that even further and give yourself permission to not do something just because you don’t want to?

5: Cultural, historical and gender sensitivity

Different identities experience different traumas, and trauma-informed discipleship recognises this. Consider whether your discipleship takes intersectionality into account. Have you learnt from people in marginalised communities? Do you listen when they speak up? Discipleship must recognise the inherent dignity of all as the foundation. The callings of women are recognised, queer people’s love is affirmed, there is no white-saviourship in your evangelism and other faith practices are celebrated.

Take suggestions that resonate and leave alone ones that do not. Some reflections may not feel safe or life-giving at the moment; recognising and honouring this part of your journey is loving God and following Christ.

Written by Mo. Mo, they/them, is a University Student whose theological interests currently hover in the realms of trauma and Queer theology. They enjoy playing with scripture and working it all out as they go, whilst not committing to anything. Pertinent to this blog, they are a survivor of religious abuse and are learning to accept and grow forwards with this fact.

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