Description
Trauma is a destroyer that destroys people’s dreams and brings many to a point of total despair. Indeed, our country and its people can be described as a traumatized society. In this course we focus on the one hand on the causes, characteristics and effects of trauma, and on the other hand on a number of practical and pastoral guidelines for counselling and supporting trauma victims.
The structure of this course is the following:
CHAPTER 1: RELEVANT FACTS
- The History of trauma research
- First World War
- Second World War
- Korean- and Vietnamese Wars
- Healing involves man in totality
- Discussion of important healing terminology
- Man is downgraded to a mere research object
- The beginning of alternative medical science
- Salvation and healing: two sciences that moved away from each other
- The relationship between theology and psychology
- Reaction on the fragmentation of the individual
- Conclusion
CHAPTER 2: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PERSON EXPERIENCES
TRAUMA?
- A definition of trauma
- The fragmentation of basic assumptions
- The assumption that I would be pardoned from pain and trauma
- The assumption of rationality
- The victim’s sense of morality
- The assumption of self-identity
- The different phases of a traumatic experience
- The pre-impact phase
- The impact phase (First phase)
- The reaction phase (Second phase)
- The withdrawal- or avoidance phase (Third phase)
- The integration phase (Fourth phase)
- Important perspectives regarding the typical grieving phases
CHAPTER 3: POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
- What is PTSD?
- What causes PTSD?
- Suppression of memories
- Psychological numbing and emotional anaesthesia
- The duration of PTSD
- Triggers
- Different trigger categories
- Visually
- Sound (Auditory)
- Smell (Olfactory)
- Taste (Gustatory)
- Physically and bodily
- Important dates and seasons
- Stressful events
- Strong emotions
- Thoughts
- Behaviour
- Out of the blue
- Combinations
- Dreams
- Dissociation
- Graphic representation of dissociation
- Emotional damage during the childhood years
- Mood Disorders
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Hostility
- Avoidance
- Grief as a result of losses
- Impulsive behaviour
- Physical and somatic (bodily) complaints
- Over-compensation
- Recurring compulsive behaviour
- Self-prejudiced behaviour
- Expression of pain that can’t be verbalized
- An effort to transfer/project emotional pain to physical pain
- It brings relief
- It is a way to know ‘ I’m still alive’
- It makes the body to look unattractive
- Other addictive- and self-destructive behaviour
- Eating disorders
- Prostitution, pornography and sexual misconducts
- Compulsive Gambling
- Re-victimization
- Addiction
- Workaholism
- Alexithymia
CHAPTER 4: THE CLOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN BODY, SPIRIT AND EMOTIONS
- The immune system
- Interaction between body and spirit
- Examples of illnesses that are stimulated by suppressed trauma
- Coronary heart diseases
- Cancer
- Peptic ulcers and intestinal inflammation
- Tuberculosis
- Asthma
- Essential Hypertension
- Arthritis
- Examples of negative effects that intense emotions can have
on the body- Shock and horror
- Inability to forgive, bitterness, wrath and hatred
- Loneliness/rejection
- Anger and frustration
- Anxiety, fear and worry
- Feelings of guilt
- Grief, pain, loss, separation and trauma
- Emotional stress
- The Holmes- and Rahe Stress Scale
CHAPTER 5: FACTORS THAT STIMULATE THE HEALING PROCESS
- Memorializing our pain
- The importance of the Holy Communion
- Revisiting the place where the trauma happened
- The importance of telling our story
- The importance of reliving the trauma
- The four steps as proposed by Dr Merlé Friedman
- Tell what happened
- Deal with feelings of guilt and remorse
- Normalize the symptoms
- Regain control
- Secondary trauma
- Seven principles of healing (G R Schiraldi)
- Healing begins when we are able to apply certain techniques to
handle the symptoms of PTSD - Healing takes place when traumatic memory is processed and
integrated - Healing takes place when avoidance is replaced by confrontation
- Healing takes place within a climate of safety and pacing
- The journey to healing is promoted through emphatic awareness
and acceptance of feelings - Balance in our lives enables healing
- Efficient boundaries enable healing
- Healing begins when we are able to apply certain techniques to
- Aspects that confirm the healing process
CHAPTER 6: PRAYER SESSION
- The importance of a prayer for healing
- Ways in which we can come into contact with our own emotions
- Guard against exaggerated rationalism
- Using photos
- Undertaking trips
- The importance of a counsellor
- Role playing
- Memories and feelings must be experienced/owned
- Establishing a prayer session
- Remind the person of the aspects of prayer that are fundamental to the healing of memory
- Explain the process of the prayer
- The opening prayer of the counsellor
- Accompany and encourage
- It is often necessary to pray together with the counselee and to
refer to ‘us’ - Asking questions
- Going back to previous situations
- Forgotten detail comes to mind
- Allow Jesus Christ to minister to people regarding their past
- Help people to forgive themselves
- Help them to forgive others
- Concluding comments and arranging follow-up sessions
CHAPTER 7: TO FIND MEANING AGAIN
- To find meaning in the midst of our pain
- Diagram of the customized square root
- Appropriate Scriptures
- It is important to see the bigger picture
- The role of pain
- Darling’s graphic representation of spiritual growth and development
CHAPTER 8: PRACTICAL GUIDELINES
- Steps to be taken after a disaster/trauma
- What you could do for yourself
- What you could do for your family members and other people
- Normal reaction to expect
- Warning signs of trauma-related stress
- Certain initial reactions after a disaster/trauma
- Some later reactions
- The particular effect on children
- Some common signs of stress reaction
- Physical signs
- Cognitive signs
- Emotional signs
- Signs that are related to behaviour
CHAPTER 9: THE IMPORTANCE OF A BALANCED LIFESTYLE IN FUTURE
- Physical exercise
- Healthy eating- and drinking habits
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Building blocks of nutrients
- Rest, recreation and holidays
- A more relaxed approach
- Take regular walks at beautiful and safe places
- Begin to again practice the ‘joy’ that you left behind
- Did you know that to smile helps?
- Don’t forget to play
- Rearrange priorities
- Urgent matters
- Important matters
- The value of a pet
- The value of a hobby
- New goals
- The support system must be in place
- How much emotional ‘weight’ do you carry
- You can’t solve everybody’s problems
- Apply the approach that “I” (together with the Holy Spirit) will regain control over my life
- The importance of spiritual growth and church involvement
- Attending church services
- Learn to dialogue with God
- Positive self-communication
- Widening your circle of involvement
CHAPTER 10: HOW CAN WE PREPARE OURSELVES FOR FUTURE
TRAUMA?
- The quality of our existing relationships
- A pure faith basis
- Hopeful determination
- A large enough life frame
- Reassessing my identity
- Job satisfaction
- To live at both sides of the street
APPENDIX 1: Dissociation
APPENDIX 2: The Holmes- and Rahe Scale
APPENDIX 3: The customized square root 154
APPENDIX 4: Darling’s scheme
APPENDIX 5: Important Web addresses
BIBLIOGRAPHY
