My Thoughts on “Trauma Informed” care As a Christian Functional Health Practitioner

As a Christian woman, and “Trauma Informed + Trained” functional health practitioner, I do not solely focus on my physical body or solely focus on my emotions when it comes to nervous system regulation + improving my physical + mental health, even though “licensed experts” or “trauma informed practitioners” tell me I have to in order to “heal.”

Instead, I choose to integrate the two with a heavy focus on soul care and as a result I have still experienced massive healing shifts both physically and mentally + have watched countless women experience the same.

As a Christian woman, who is rooted in the Holy Scriptures + has the gift of the Holy Spirit, I take God at His Word + believe that He has given us free will and created. us with a mind, body, AND a consciousness (soul).

And I also acknowledge I have a moral responsibility + I am held accountable for my sins, even if they are a result of being “wounded” by someone else or an event, feeling triggered, the result of a biological impulse, or due to hormonal imbalances + mineral deficiencies.

Because I believe I have a soul with free will, I do not root the care of my mind, body, + soul into popular holistic (or conventional) worldviews that believe + teach we are simply a victim to our biological impulses, past experiences, or environment.

If we focus solely on bodily functions + teach that our responses in life + capacity to heal are solely rooted in our biology, we are denying consciousness and the fact that we have free will + capacity to change + control our brains.

If we focus solely on “healing our emotional wounds” or attempt to slap scripture + medication over a traumatic event or situation, without taking the physical body into consideration, it is also harmful because while we are in human form, we have sensory motor awareness + physiological responses that highly influence how we respond to certain situations + heal from past events.

Example: Shallow breathing due to a chronic red light reflex from a past trauma, which is causing you to chronically hold tension in your diaphragm, worsening your anxiety.

You cannot simply “talk” your way into breathing more deeply, it is a physiological response + often takes body work + intentional movement to help reduce the chronic tension causing you to shallow breathe.

In the same way, emotional healing is not always found in “talking” about a past event (talking about it over and over can actually keep you stuck, unless it was something you had to hide). Very often, the physical body + emotions, + soul needs to be involved + tended to for optimal healing.

Without a biblical lens, you will be encouraged to strive harder to care for your mindset + heal your trauma solely through your ability to control your emotions, fix your imbalanced chakras, low vibration, negative thinking, and be sure to avoid eating toxic foods. If you fail, or have physical symptoms, you are probably stuck in a trauma loop or not spiritually enlightened enough. In the end, you become your own God, and it is all reliant upon your abilities to heal your own trauma + reach optimal healing. Don’t forget, anyone who stands in the way of your pursuits is getting in the way of you manifesting your best self, so you are better off without them.

These can become dangerous ideologies, even though they contain partial truths.

We have a physical body, brain + emotions, + a consciousness. While some programs do honor consciousness, a consciousness not living in line with Biblical truth, guided by the Holy Spirit, is dangerous if you wear the name Christian + claim to understand what Jesus has done for you.

At their roots, if you trace programs that solely focus on your biology or consciousness not aligned in biblical truth far enough into the future, their core beliefs are exposed and end up denying moral responsibility + deny the concepts of sin + free will. Often labeling any form of accountability + truth as “religious trauma.” (I am not saying religious trauma does not exist, but that phrase along with the over use of “therapy speak” online, is leading many people astray based on false assumptions + accusations). And being used to excuse certain sinful behaviors away.

For example, hormone imbalances, mineral deficiencies + emotional triggers, + past trauma, do play a role in the way you respond to your environment and can highly influence your overall physical health + ability to heal certain symptoms.

But they do not make you sin or excuse your sin. You have free will to choose how you respond. And you have a Savior who fills in the gaps for you when you fail.

For example: I am capable of being angry and not sinning, as it says to in Eph 4: 26-27 “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”

But sometimes, when I am tired + my hormones are imbalanced, my mood is low, my anxiety is heightened, or I am “hangry,” or hurt by something someone said or did to me, I may get angry and lash out and say things I didn’t mean to say or respond in a way I wish I hadn’t...

And that is where the beauty of repentance, compassion, receiving or extending forgiveness or forbearance through Jesus comes in.

Example: instead of saying, “this is just how I am because of my biology,” regulation through the lens of compassionate repentance, says:

“I am aware of and I am capable of denying my biological impulses when they may lead me to sin. I am also aware I am called to forgive or extend forbearance to others, but when I fail to do so, I also know, I have the capacity to repent + try again, confidently resting in the truth written here:”

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9

You can honor your mind body + spirit connection, regulate your nervous system, and nourish your God designed body, + heal past physiological responses caused by trauma, while also staying grounded in biblical truth, free will, and moral responsibility.

It involves bringing back biblical concepts like repentance + soul care into the conversation on topics like regulation + mental health.

And it involves giving yourself the gift of time, compassion, community + accountability vs isolation + becoming captive by toxic shame or selfish ambition.

Want to learn more about this topic? Check our our 12 Week Nervous System Focused Program: Aligned + Renewed for a biblical approach to nervous system regulation.

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