Mark R. Laaser, Phd, BPCCC
Debbie W. Laaser, MA, MFT
Introduction
A foundational belief of all Christians is that the suffering and death of Jesus saved us from all of our sins. While
we embrace and celebrate that, it is difficult for Christians to accept
that we might at times be called to participate in that suffering. Jesus,
himself, invites us to take upon ourselves his “yoke” and somewhat
“strangely” suggests that his burden is “easy and light”. He goes on to say that if we are burdened we should come to him and find rest for our souls. (Matt. 11:28-30) In this article we would like to suggest that participating in the suffering of Christ can be an opportunity for growth. In
fact, there is a “new” school of thought that is telling us that trauma
can lead to our growth and is proving it through empirical research. This school is called, “Post Traumatic Growth.” (PTG)
As
Christian counselors ourselves, a large part of our training has
involved assessing and treating the various kinds of trauma that people
can experience. This can be
everything from childhood abuse and neglect to dramatic and tragic
events in adulthood, including death of loved ones, infidelity, terminal
illness, disability, and war. We
know that trauma can lead some people to experience the symptoms of the
anxiety-based diagnosis called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We
have wondered if some interventions and therapies spend too much time
“rehearsing” trauma and thereby keep people stuck in
victimization—re-injuring the person, including the neurochemistry of
their brains.
Conversely,
we have seen well-meaning Christian counselors who encourage clients to
quickly forgive those who have harmed them and to “move on” with life
or encourage clients to quickly explore their own hurtful behaviors and
take responsibility for their ‘fair share’ of the harm.The field of Post
Traumatic Growth reminds us of our biblical teachings: as Christian
counselors our task is to help people make meaning out of the pain and
to discover how God has helped them to be stronger people as a result.
History
The New Testament is rich with teaching that suffering leads to a greater dependence on God and to strength of character. Paul
says in Romans, “we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that
suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character,
hope.” (Romans 5:3-4) James writes, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers,
whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the
testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (Jas. 1:2-4) In
the history of theological, philosophical and psychological thought the
idea that suffering and pain leads to meaning and growth is certainly
not new.
This
article’s length only permits us to point you to the current work of
Calhoun and Tedeschi whose work over the last 15 years has led to the
definition of Post Traumatic Growth and to clinical research supporting
it. They define PTG as, “The
positive psychological change experienced as a result of the struggle
with highly challenging life circumstances” (Tedeschi and Calhoun, 2004,
p. 1). Tedeschi and Calhoun suggest that terms like trauma, crisis, and stressful life events can be used interchangeably. They
understand that many people can have significant emotional health
issues as a result of suffering and trauma but that, “in the developing
literature on posttraumatic growth, we have been finding that reports of
growth experiences in the aftermath of traumatic events far outnumber
reports of psychiatric disorders” (Tedeschi and Calhoun, 2004, p. 2).
The Dynamics of Post Traumatic Growth
PTG
does not occur because of the trauma, it occurs when the person goes
beyond an adaptive response and learns how to struggle with the
potential transformational possibility of the trauma. Tedeschi and Calhoun list 5 possible growth results:
1. An increased appreciation of life in general and a sense of what is really important.
2. Closer and more meaningful relationships.
3. A general sense of greater personal strength.
4. An identification of new possibilities for a person’s life.
5. Growth in the domain of spiritual and/or existential matters.
In
terms of number 5, we believe that this growth draws a person closer to
God and develops a sense in the person of God’s divine presence.
The Process of Post Traumatic Growth
The literature describes three critical elements that promote PTG for an individual that has experienced a traumatic life event:
1. Managing
Distressing Emotions: A person learns to express all feelings relating
to the trauma including anger, anxiety, and sadness. In reality, this is grief work.
2. Support and Disclosure: An individual practices disclosing honest feelings and thoughts about the trauma with other supportive people. This must involve a system of social support including the possibility of a therapy group.
3. Cognitive Processing: As most therapists know, the experience of trauma leads to feelings of shame and other core beliefs about God, self, and others. Cognitive restructuring is a function of helping a person “reframe” the experience in light of God’s truth. This includes helping the person discover how they are stronger today because of the trauma.
We would add a fourth element:
4. Forgiveness:
In the process of religious and spiritual maturity, a person will learn
how to embrace the process of forgiving the people and circumstances
who caused the harm.
Conclusion and Implications for Christian Therapy
We find it helpful to conceptualize the experience of PTG on a continuum. On one end is the experience of knowing and reliving the trauma. On the other end is the experience of not allowing oneself to think about the trauma, the experience of denial.
Victim Identity Posttraumatic Growth Minimization of Trauma
Repetitive Trauma Reliving---------------------------Meaning of Pain-------------------------------------Quick Forgiveness
Over Focus on Distress, Loss, Acceptance that Distress and Growth Pressure to Accept Personal
and Maladaptive Behavior Co-exist Responsibility for Trauma
If we concentrate on the left end, the person will stay stuck in being a victim. If
we concentrate on the right side, the person will experience the
destructive emotional and physical consequences of stress and
maladaptive emotional illness. In
the middle is the healthy growth that is possible when the person can
find meaning in the pain and discover how he or she has matured as a
Christian of healthy character.
It
is our job as Christian counselors to be listeners to the pain, the
explorers of it, and the ones who help the person reinterpret God’s
presence in all of it. When we
do, we all participate in the sufferings of Christ, our burdens become
lighter, and we have the opportunity to experience the transformation
available through trauma.
References
Tedeschi, R. G. and Calhoun, L. G. (2004). Posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence. Psychological Inquiry. 15(1), 1-18.
Mark and Debbie Laaser are both counselors in their own company, Faithful and True Ministries, based in Eden Prairie, MN. They have both been long time friends of and contributors to AACC.
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