Why Trauma in the Church Needs to Be Discussed

Despite the increasing awareness of mental health and the challenges people face because of it, trauma is often still criticized in spiritual settings. Those who have sought refuge in their faith and the church may find themselves under pressure to remain silent or even to "forgive and forget" problems that require more direct attention.

In her book Sacred Recovery: Integrating Spirituality into the Healing Process, Paula Butero aims to deconstruct the idea that trauma can be removed simply by discovering religion and solidifies the stance that the pain it creates needs not just to be acknowledged but addressed safely.

Healing Is a Journey, Not a Commandment

When survivors are told that prayer will heal them from their emotional scars, they begin to internalize their problems and replace them with a sense of spiritual disconnect. During these internal battles, one often seeks guidance through their faith and answers through prayer, sometimes neglecting their emotional and physical needs in the process.

A central lesson in Paula Butero's book Sacred Recovery is that healing from trauma is not a straightforward or even quick process. Instead, the pathway is often nonlinear and can take weeks, months, or even years to navigate. Through her writing, Butero discusses how trauma reshapes every facet of an individual, from their personality to their body and mind, and even their soul and spirit.

By recognizing that there are people silently suffering within their pews, church leaders can fulfill their actual duty to their members, which is to remain compassionate to those who walk through their doors.

Butero's Spiritual Tools for the Wounded

Paula Butero's method of healing comprises meditations, prayers, and affirmations that validate an individual's suffering while encouraging healing. These soul-affirming habits are meant to act as a cushion rather than a crutch that one is meant to lean on. Each chapter of her book concludes with a closing prayer, intended to be both an act of release and a submission to one's trauma.

Alongside these affirmations and prayers, Butero also advocates for the concepts of writing, attending support groups, and establishing spiritual mentorships. These aspects are not meant to supersede faith but rather to strengthen it.

A Call to Create Safe Spaces

Butero's significant contribution to Sacred Recovery is her demand for churches to become trauma-informed. This entails not just building spiritually and emotionally safe surroundings but places where people feel comfortable and welcome to heal from their trauma, all while addressing anxiety, fear, and shame surrounding it.

Sacred Recovery outlines several ways churches can become more trauma-informed, including the creation of trauma awareness seminars, spaces for anonymous prayer, and collaboration with therapists that combine mental health therapy and faith counseling.

Recognizing the Sacred Truth of Healing

If the church longs to remain relevant and life-giving, it must give those in its pews more than just platitudes. It must offer a safe space, empathy, and understanding.

Paula Butero's Sacred Recovery is not just for survivors but also for leaders, pastors, mentors, and every believer who strives to create a more loving environment within their spiritual community. The sacred truth is that people heal better when they receive emotional support and feel seen and heard in the process.

You can start a conversation in your church today by reading Sacred Recovery: Integrating Spirituality into the Healing Process by Paula Butero.