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Trauma Redeemed: A Biblical Response to Medicalized Suffering
In Trauma Redeemed, Dr. Julie Ganschow offers a compelling biblical framework for understanding and addressing catastrophic suffering, challenging the secular medicalization of trauma. As terms like PTSD dominate modern culture, this book calls biblical counselors and Christians to return to the sufficiency of Scripture for healing the soul. Exploring the roots of suffering in the fall of mankind, Ganschow redefines trauma as distress of the soul, providing a gospel-centered model of care that addresses the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. Through practical guidance, case studies like Sally’s journey of redemption, and “Consider and Apply” questions, readers discover how to minister to those who have endured abuse, violence, or loss. Emphasizing the church’s vital role in discipleship and healing, Trauma Redeemed equips pastors, counselors, and believers to point the hurting to true hope in Christ. Ideal for anyone seeking a transformative, Scripture-based approach to trauma recovery.
- GenresCounselling
302 pages, Paperback
Published June 4, 2025
28 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
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September 9, 2025
Book Review: Trauma Redeemed: Biblical Response to Medicalized Suffering by Dr. Julie Ganschow, PHD.
Who was Trauma Redeemed written for?
Dr. Ganschow wrote Trauma Redeemed primarily for those people who call themselves Biblical Counselors. It was also written for anyone interested in counseling that incorporates the Bible into their methodology.
Why was Trauma Redeemed written?
Dr. Ganschow wrote Trauma Redeemed to help people who have experienced catastrophic suffering, often diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD).
Trauma Redeemed was also written as a response to those who call themselves biblical counselors but qualify as such by adding "clinically" or "trauma-informed" to their title.
Dr. Ganschow also wrote Trauma Redeemed as an encouragement to those people who call themselves biblical counselors but rely solely on the sufficiency of God’s Word in their counseling. This type of biblical counselor is sometimes called a traditional biblical counselor.
What is meant by the medicalization of suffering?
Chapter One in Truama Redemmed is titled The Fall of Mankind and the Roots of Suffering. The chapter explains the Theological Foundations of Suffering; Sin and Its Consequences: Understanding Human Brokenness and The Impact of the Fall on Creation and Relationships.
What is important to note here is that any biblical counselor who uses the title biblical counselor counsels from their theology, whether it be good theology, bad theology, or just plain ugly theology. Dr. Ganschow’s chapter typifies sound (good) theology to help the reader understand that suffering is “normal” and that suffering can be found throughout the Old Testament and New Testament. In other words, while the Bible never uses the word trauma, suffering, and sometimes catastrophic suffering is found throughout the Bible.
Chapter Two in Trauma Redeemed is titled Trauma and the Medicalization of Suffering.
Biblical counselors (both types above) have realized that psychology has had a significant impact on how we interpret suffering. The culture as a whole believes that suffering is not normal, and the emotions associated with suffering must be treated clinically by someone with advanced degrees in psychology or a related discipline. This usually means a prescription and sometimes a therapist or psychiatrist for the sufferer.
Biblical counselors (both types) have often taken issue with the cultural assumptions propagated by the American Psychiatric Association and the DSM-5-TR. These assumptions assume a secular materialistic worldview that leaves God out of the picture entirely. It also follows that the redemptive work of Jesus Christ is left out of the equation by secular counselors, even if they identify as Christians.
But when it comes to catastrophic suffering, often diagnosed as PTSD or C-PTSD (DSM-5-TR), the clinically or trauma-informed biblical counselor believes some type of therapy is helpful and even necessary.
The traditional biblical counselor disagrees with the clinically or trauma-informed biblical counselor and believes that the Bible is sufficient to minister to those who have experienced catastrophic suffering.
Chapter Two details the secular approaches that have shaped modern trauma counseling by identifying the cultural and psychological perspectives of trauma (starting on page 7).
The curious reader who is not a biblical counselor will find Chapters One and Two very useful in understanding the importance of a worldview in how we approach not only suffering but life in general.
Chapter Two introduces “Sally,” a young woman who was sexually abused by her own brother and his friends. Sally was later trafficked and used by various men. It leads to Sally’s drug use and sense of hopelessness, which those who experience catastrophic suffering often feel.
Sally’s story is what biblical counselors would call a hard case and what secular counselors would call a case of Complex-PTSD. Sally’s story will be told throughout most of the book.
Why is this important if both types of biblical counselors are just trying to help people who have experienced catastrophic suffering, often called trauma?
In Chapter 4, A Biblical Model of Care, there is a quote from Dale Johnson, Professor of Biblical Counseling at Midwestern Baptist Seminary and Executive Director of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC), of which this reviewer is a member. This is what Professor Johnson said at the 2022 Annual Conference of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors:
“As biblical counselors, our counsel must originate and flow from the Word of God. This will allow us to approach a suffering saint in truth and with love as a fellow sufferer rather than a clinician who approaches only the emotions (Matt. 22:37-38). We can engage them and their problems emphatically and humbly. We have an incredible opportunity to provide an alternative to the mishmash of theories and ideas that the secular and integrated counseling world has to offer.”
Dr. Ganshow effectively shows in the rest of the book how ministering to the sufferer can be done using the Bible alone to help people like Sally. The book serves as a training manual for those who believe God’s Word is sufficient for all the problems faced by men and women today, including those who have suffered catastrophic suffering.
Full Disclosure: Dr. Julie Ganschow is a colleague and friend. I serve on the Board of Directors of Reiging Grace Counseling Ministries. I am a retired pastor and serve as an elder/pastor and biblical counselor at the Vine Community Church in South Milwaukee, WI.
Who was Trauma Redeemed written for?
Dr. Ganschow wrote Trauma Redeemed primarily for those people who call themselves Biblical Counselors. It was also written for anyone interested in counseling that incorporates the Bible into their methodology.
Why was Trauma Redeemed written?
Dr. Ganschow wrote Trauma Redeemed to help people who have experienced catastrophic suffering, often diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD).
Trauma Redeemed was also written as a response to those who call themselves biblical counselors but qualify as such by adding "clinically" or "trauma-informed" to their title.
Dr. Ganschow also wrote Trauma Redeemed as an encouragement to those people who call themselves biblical counselors but rely solely on the sufficiency of God’s Word in their counseling. This type of biblical counselor is sometimes called a traditional biblical counselor.
What is meant by the medicalization of suffering?
Chapter One in Truama Redemmed is titled The Fall of Mankind and the Roots of Suffering. The chapter explains the Theological Foundations of Suffering; Sin and Its Consequences: Understanding Human Brokenness and The Impact of the Fall on Creation and Relationships.
What is important to note here is that any biblical counselor who uses the title biblical counselor counsels from their theology, whether it be good theology, bad theology, or just plain ugly theology. Dr. Ganschow’s chapter typifies sound (good) theology to help the reader understand that suffering is “normal” and that suffering can be found throughout the Old Testament and New Testament. In other words, while the Bible never uses the word trauma, suffering, and sometimes catastrophic suffering is found throughout the Bible.
Chapter Two in Trauma Redeemed is titled Trauma and the Medicalization of Suffering.
Biblical counselors (both types above) have realized that psychology has had a significant impact on how we interpret suffering. The culture as a whole believes that suffering is not normal, and the emotions associated with suffering must be treated clinically by someone with advanced degrees in psychology or a related discipline. This usually means a prescription and sometimes a therapist or psychiatrist for the sufferer.
Biblical counselors (both types) have often taken issue with the cultural assumptions propagated by the American Psychiatric Association and the DSM-5-TR. These assumptions assume a secular materialistic worldview that leaves God out of the picture entirely. It also follows that the redemptive work of Jesus Christ is left out of the equation by secular counselors, even if they identify as Christians.
But when it comes to catastrophic suffering, often diagnosed as PTSD or C-PTSD (DSM-5-TR), the clinically or trauma-informed biblical counselor believes some type of therapy is helpful and even necessary.
The traditional biblical counselor disagrees with the clinically or trauma-informed biblical counselor and believes that the Bible is sufficient to minister to those who have experienced catastrophic suffering.
Chapter Two details the secular approaches that have shaped modern trauma counseling by identifying the cultural and psychological perspectives of trauma (starting on page 7).
The curious reader who is not a biblical counselor will find Chapters One and Two very useful in understanding the importance of a worldview in how we approach not only suffering but life in general.
Chapter Two introduces “Sally,” a young woman who was sexually abused by her own brother and his friends. Sally was later trafficked and used by various men. It leads to Sally’s drug use and sense of hopelessness, which those who experience catastrophic suffering often feel.
Sally’s story is what biblical counselors would call a hard case and what secular counselors would call a case of Complex-PTSD. Sally’s story will be told throughout most of the book.
Why is this important if both types of biblical counselors are just trying to help people who have experienced catastrophic suffering, often called trauma?
In Chapter 4, A Biblical Model of Care, there is a quote from Dale Johnson, Professor of Biblical Counseling at Midwestern Baptist Seminary and Executive Director of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC), of which this reviewer is a member. This is what Professor Johnson said at the 2022 Annual Conference of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors:
“As biblical counselors, our counsel must originate and flow from the Word of God. This will allow us to approach a suffering saint in truth and with love as a fellow sufferer rather than a clinician who approaches only the emotions (Matt. 22:37-38). We can engage them and their problems emphatically and humbly. We have an incredible opportunity to provide an alternative to the mishmash of theories and ideas that the secular and integrated counseling world has to offer.”
Dr. Ganshow effectively shows in the rest of the book how ministering to the sufferer can be done using the Bible alone to help people like Sally. The book serves as a training manual for those who believe God’s Word is sufficient for all the problems faced by men and women today, including those who have suffered catastrophic suffering.
Full Disclosure: Dr. Julie Ganschow is a colleague and friend. I serve on the Board of Directors of Reiging Grace Counseling Ministries. I am a retired pastor and serve as an elder/pastor and biblical counselor at the Vine Community Church in South Milwaukee, WI.
December 16, 2025
Great overview. the first chapters are especially helpful in distinguishing a biblical vs. secular approach to trauma. I'm not sure that a "clinically informed" biblical counselor would disagree with much in the book.
February 18, 2026
Phenomenal read- loved the way the author holds the Scripture higher than secular humanism, lived experience and pop physiology. Highly recommend to those involved in Biblical counseling or Church ministry.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews