As a Christian therapist specializing in trauma for over a decade, I’ve sat with hundreds of survivors—combat veterans, childhood abuse survivors, victims of natural disasters and sexual assault. After the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, I worked extensively with those affected, witnessing both the depth of their suffering and the strength of their resilience. I’ve had the profound privilege of serving as the counselor for a ministry that helps human trafficking survivors escape and rebuild their lives, walking with dozens of courageous women as they reclaim their freedom and heal from unimaginable wounds.
Here’s what I’ve learned—both professionally and personally, through my own battles with depression and anxiety: trauma changes us, but it doesn't have to define us. Healing is real. Not the kind that erases the past or ties everything up with a neat bow, but the kind that transforms how we carry our pain.
I remember my own struggle as a young woman—smiling at church while feeling empty inside. Quoting verses about joy while drowning in sadness. Wondering if I was beyond help, because I had prayed, journaled, worshiped—and still felt broken.
True healing didn’t come overnight. It came through therapy and spiritual practices. Through facing hard truths and letting go of religious platitudes. Through finding safe people who could hold my questions without judgment. And ultimately, it led me to a deeper, more honest faith—a faith spacious enough for both sorrow and hope.
That’s the journey I want for you. Not a tidy path to perfection, but a courageous path toward wholeness—spiritually, emotionally, and relationally.
Understanding Trauma Through a Faith Lens
Trauma isn't just about what happened to you. It's about how your body and brain responded to protect you in the moment. When we face overwhelming events, our nervous systems shift into survival mode—and sometimes stay there long after the danger has passed.
That isn’t a sign of spiritual weakness. It's evidence of how fearfully and wonderfully we are made. God built intricate systems within us to help us survive.
Unfortunately, Christian communities sometimes respond with well-meaning but harmful advice: "Just trust God more.""You need to forgive and move on." While these may be intended to help, they often deepen the wound—adding shame to suffering.
But Scripture paints a different picture. Jesus didn’t minimize pain. He entered it.
He wept at Lazarus’s tomb. He sweat blood in Gethsemane. He cried out from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The Savior of the world didn’t bypass suffering—He embraced it.
And He invites us to do the same.
Recognizing the Signs: When Past Trauma Still Speaks
Trauma doesn’t always look like what we see in movies. Often, it whispers rather than screams.
You may feel constantly on edge, as if danger could appear at any moment. You might experience flashbacks or intrusive thoughts that come out of nowhere. You might avoid places or people without fully knowing why. Or feel detached from your body, going through life like you're watching from the outside.
Triggers can be subtle—certain smells, sounds, or sensations can suddenly bring back the past with alarming intensity.
These aren’t personality flaws or faith failures. They are protective responses from a nervous system that’s trying to keep you safe.
Recognizing them is the first courageous step toward healing.
When Therapy and Faith Work Together
One of the most freeing truths I’ve learned is this: Seeking professional help is not a lack of faith. It’s an act of stewardship.
Just as we seek a doctor for physical wounds, we can seek a therapist for emotional and psychological wounds.
Therapy doesn’t compete with faith—it can strengthen it. In my practice, I’ve seen how EMDR, cognitive behavioral therapy, and somatic approaches help people process trauma and experience God more deeply.
When trauma no longer runs the show, you have more space for prayer, worship, and relationship. When your nervous system is regulated, you can show up more fully—in your faith, in your relationships, and in your calling.
Practical Steps Toward Healing
Create Safety First
Healing requires safety. This may involve setting boundaries, finding trauma-informed spiritual and therapeutic support, or creating physical spaces where you feel secure. Safety isn’t selfish—it’s essential.
Use Grounding Techniques
When you're triggered, grounding brings you back to the present. Try the 5-4-3-2-1 technique: name five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, one thing you can taste. These sensory cues remind your body that you’re safe—right here, right now.
Embrace Your Story
Healing doesn’t erase your story—it reframes it. You are not what happened to you. You are someone who is healing, growing, becoming. Your story matters, scars and all.
Find Safe People
Isolation intensifies pain. Surround yourself with people who can hold space for your questions and struggles—without trying to fix you. Look for a therapist, support group, or faith community that allows you to be fully seen.
Practice Self-Compassion
Be gentle with yourself. Speak to yourself as you would to a beloved friend. Recognize the voice of your inner critic—and choose grace instead. Healing isn’t linear. That’s okay.
When Faith and Healing Intersect
Some of the most beautiful transformations I’ve witnessed happen when people stop seeing faith and therapy as opposites—and start letting them work together. I’ve seen clients pray more honestly, worship more freely, and reconnect with God in ways they never thought possible—because they did the hard work of healing.
- Your healing journey is sacred.
- It’s not selfish—it’s stewardship.
- It’s not faithless—it’s brave.
- It’s not weakness—it’s honesty.
Healing isn’t a destination. It’s a winding road with setbacks and breakthroughs, sorrow and joy. But every step is worth it. Because as you heal, you become more whole, more present, more open to love and to God’s calling on your life.
You are not too broken to heal. Your story is not too messy for God to redeem. And your journey toward wholeness is worth every step you take.
If you need help on the journey toward healing and wholeness, please contact the Renewing Life Center at 702-434-7290. We have over twenty Christian clinicians available to walk alongside you.
Jennifer Antonucci, M.A., LMFT, LCADC
Shared with my daughter. Such a timely article. Thank you!