Co-written by Day Marshall, LMHC LPC (Senior Clinician, Director of HCC Oregon) and Matt Warren, LMHC MDiv (Executive Director, Senior Clinician)
In a town adjacent to ours, there was a fire in a small apartment building. Mercifully, there was no loss of life, but every tenant in the building was displaced. The fire was a significant event for each of these households, but the nature of each tenant’s response was unique. Some of the tenants exhibited resilience and determination, quickly rebounding and beginning the process of recovering items lost in the fire. Other tenants showed signs of being profoundly traumatized by the exact same events. These individuals seemed reluctant to move on or accept what happened to them; they were more fearful, more overwhelmed, and more prone to intense emotional outbursts, even against those who sought to help them.
How do we make sense of such divergent and seemingly disproportionate responses to the very same events within a community? Much can be traced back to the unique history that each individual person has with trauma. This trauma history can underlie a person’s seemingly pre-conditioned response to hardships and conflicts of various kinds as strongly negative, overwhelmed, and maladaptive, while others around them might seem to fare more steadily amidst similar circumstances.
We often see these dynamics played out in our congregations. Perhaps a few examples are coming to mind for you right now. As leaders, it can be quite perplexing and potentially problematic if we are not prepared to navigate the intense intrapersonal and interpersonal dynamics associated with trauma. Moreover, a clearer understanding of trauma can enable us to cultivate communities and programs within the church that provide a sense of security and safety for traumatized persons.
The local church has a unique potential both to help and to hurt (often unintentionally) traumatized persons. Being known and cared for within a redemptive community that is rooted in the power of the gospel can enable traumatized persons to experience deep healing, integration, and resilience. At the same time, the real life complexities of community are rife with potential triggers and grievances and vulnerabilities that can cause it to feel unsafe and even adversarial to a person affected by trauma. Furthermore, the intense emotions and disruptive behaviors that are stirred up by trauma can be difficult for a community to withstand, which may then lead to the traumatized person being (or at least feeling) shamed and alienated. Clearly this is thorny ground for both the person and the community. And yet...even so...traumatized persons need the church, and the church in turn needs traumatized people.
With this in mind, here are six principles for providing trauma-informed pastoral care within the church. This is just the start of understanding trauma and caring better for it within the church context, so please reach out to us and let us know how we can support and partner with you in putting these principles into action.
Recognize the Signals
Look for changes like withdrawal, hypervigilance, or intense emotional reactions.
Understand these may show up as high needs, difficulty with boundaries, or seeming conflict-proneness.
Express Compassion and Authenticity
Listen actively and affirm the person’s safety without pressure or assumption.
Acknowledge sensitive areas and be willing to engage gently and openly.
Ask for Permission
Always ask before offering help, physical contact, or spiritual guidance.
Establish trust and safety before inviting the person to share their story.
Establish Healthy Boundaries
Reiterate boundaries with empathy, especially when crises or resistance arise.
Avoid becoming over-involved in every issue; guide toward stability and priorities.
Allow Space When Needed
Step back when asked, and offer follow-up support after the person feels safe again.
Recognize that healing often requires temporary withdrawal to regain security.
Be Patient
Celebrate resilience while offering grace during setbacks.
Embrace the role of supportive presence rather than problem-solver.