Most people in ministry with an interest in mental health (or vice versa) are waiting for something to change with how the church is approaching mental health, spiritual bypassing, cult-like tendencies, and over emphasis on deliverance ministry.

You joined this group because you’re not most people. You may have joined this group to learn from others and pick up nuggets from folks who are completing the Trauma-Informed Spirirual Intervention course, but I have great news. In addition to the discourse we have here (albeit, quiet for now), we now have the Safe and Sound collective and exclusive coaching for people who are more than just talk.

If you’re already subscribed to the Safe and Sound newsletter and recorded the last two issues for the month of May, you don’t need to take any action. However, if you missed the last two issues, you’ll be added to the Safe and Sound…

What I have enjoyed and learned throughout this course is how to best support individuals on their healing journey through the use of trauma-informed spiritual intervention. The importance of moving in the direction of which the client moves while also holding space for the faith challenges and discoveries that a person may face.

I really appreciate the comprehensive break down of how safety should be established prior to anything else and how recognizing the humanity of a person throughout the intervention process is vital. As I read a long in the chapter, I had so many "YES!" moments to parts of the text that walk the reader through handling a person with care and love rather than viewing them as a problem to be fixed or immediately delivered from. I'm enjoying the emphasis on this approach being a process and how patience and humility are required for its effectiveness.

One thing that was new to my understanding, is how the use of spiritual gifts can be harmful and cause trauma "where there is a lack of understanding of God's nature and His purposes ... lack of spiritual maturity, lack of understanding concerning the purpose of the gift, and a lack of cultivating the…

Personally, I am someone who has caused grief to spiritual mentors, friends, and family in the past, due to my own fall away. Eventually, as I made a return back to having faith in Christ, I was met with the forgiveness, comfort and love that Paul speaks about in 2 Corinthians 2:1-11. From this very personal experience, it is part of what motivates me to support others in the same way of Grace.

However, I do have some uncertainty about the the Gospel of Grace that "extends authority and victory over spiritual enemies despite ignorance, previous willing agreement, and previous sin" (pg. 90 in the textbook). To my understanding just because this grace is available, doesn't mean that an individual is experiencing the benefit of it (fully). They would have to know to access it in order to receive it (fully). Is this correct?

It's in my experience that unless…