Restoring the Shattered Self: A Christian Counselor's Guide to Complex Trauma

Christian Association for Psychological Studies Books

by Heather Davediuk Gingrich

What is complex traumatic stress disorder (CTSD)? How do Christian counselors help complex trauma survivors live the "abundant life"? Are we inadvertently retraumatizing our counselees? The challenge of counseling survivors of complex trauma is one that many Christian counselors are not adequately equipped to handle. Too often the result is the painful reexperience of the traumatic event in a way that can further damage their personhood and alienate them from the church. In such sensitive cases, empathy and care must be wedded to the skilled application of foundational counseling principles. Heather Davediuk Gingrich brings years of counseling experience to bear on this delicate and difficult issue. She presents Judith Herman's classic three-phase model for dealing with CTSD, focusing on safety and stabilization, the processing of traumatic memories, and consolidation and restoration. Gingrich ably integrates the established research on trauma therapy with keen insights from her own experience and an intimate understanding of the special concerns related to Christian counseling--including a discussion of prayer and spiritual warfare. This work is a thoughtful and much-needed guide for working with complex trauma that is essential reading for counselors and pastors alike.

Genres: Counselling, Psychology, Christian, Nonfiction, Textbooks, Christian Non Fiction, Academic

237 pages, Paperback

First published March 6, 2013

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Bryan Eberl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me preface that this book is not for everyone. I think I’ve always been fascinated with psychology, and have been considering applying for a counseling degree. That said this book weaves through incredibly complex trauma, with medical authority, and also keeping the main thing the main thing. In other words relation to Christ the root of healing alongside complex solutions for complex trauma. It is not a light read, takes time to digest, but ultimately helps me understand trauma responses, healing and the like.

Some quotes:

“I see forgiveness as a process rather than as an event at a particular point in time…”

“One of the more exciting parts… is to watch them grow spiritually as they heal emotionally.”

“By accident I got some black marker on my hand, and I tried to wash it of and I scrubbed at it, but it wouldn't come off, but inside I knew that it would eventually wear off!
As I looked at the black marker on my hand, it symbolizes to me the abuse that somehow got on me that intruded into my life, not by accident, not planned on, by my parents. Its black and ugly, and I've tried to scrub the blackness away ... my skin has been raw many times, trying to get the ugliness off, And I keep hoping that eventually it'll fade away too ... hoping that it isn’t always going to be a part of my life.”

[Jamie Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good stuff (phasing in trauma counseling, health of the counselor in trauma counseling, etc) but for being a Christian counselor I would have hoped for more incorporation of God’s ability to heal as well as how to remind Christian clients of the goodness of the gospel in all of life.

[Bret Legg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though not for the general public, this book is a strong over-all read for counselors (and particularly Christian counselors) who counsel those with histories of sexual abuse. The author has a strong background in this area and offers both an over-arching general approach and specific helpful approaches to working with those suffering from Complex Traumatic Stress Disorder. The book is especially focused on the dissociative aspects of such victims.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done and informative. Recommended for therapists/counselors who wish to know more about treating severe and complex trauma patients. Not necessarily friendly to those of us coming in off the street. A lot went over my head as a non-therapist. The author targets fellow therapists while using understood vocabulary within the counseling community. There is a Christian slant, but is definitely not the the thrust of the information and does not detract from or weaken her experience, knowledge, and overall information.

Because of all the SRA literature I've engaged with, I suspect Heather Davediuk Gingrich has lots of experience working with this population. She doesn't touch on specifics with patients, but it's implied for those who recognize indicators.

[Inna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opener

The information in this book is an eye opener for me. I have an understanding of CTSD; but the DID not much but what main stream media portrayed. But the dearth of compassion and clear explanation of how a person comes to dissociating to that level, and examples provided have brought an understanding. Thank you

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A practical but very thorough treatment of complex trauma.

[Edward Veluz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful

Very informative.... the example and stories really help me understand her better. This is a book ill have always come back to.

[Grace Eidman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

[Emma Trobeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and was so helpful for my work as a therapist. Does not necessarily fit for the general public to read but one that has greatly influenced my life and practice.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book outlines how to do trauma work from a Christian perspective and with sensitivity to one’s faith. Tons of resources packed in the book too! Every Christian therapist can find value in this.