Trauma-Informed
Spiritual Direction
Spacious Presence As You Develop Fluency
in the Movements of Your Nervous System
Our bodies are incredibly intelligent.
We can cultivate the capacity to listen to and interpret this intelligence
and make space for it to ripen into living wisdom.
We can learn to see and relate to ourselves with love and compassion and
to see and relate to others with this same spacious orientation.
We can strengthen our capacity to stay present in stressful moments.
Let’s take our time
While connection can be incredibly healing, there’s wisdom and science that tells us that establishing safety must come first. It may take some time to find our rhythm.
The space between us is a co-creation.
My sacred responsibility is to honor your humanity. I will not rush you into deep sharing or catharsis. I am not here to fix you or save you. I’m not an expert on your life.
Trauma-Informed Spiritual Direction is a place to experience “compassionate with-ness” – to be with ourselves over time, in the company of another – one who honors our agency, invites our fullness, and trusts that our inner wisdom will naturally arise as our body intuits it is safe enough to offer it to us.
Trauma Is A Part of Being Human
Trauma (as simply as I can describe it) is what happens IN US as a result of what happened TO US, something more than we could bear at the time.
One of my favorite trauma experts, Dr. Frank Anderson, explains it this way:
“I believe in a fundamental and universal truth: Trauma blocks love and connection, and healing our wounds provides access to the love and goodness that is inherent in us all.
I further believe we each possess internal wisdom—an inner compass, a truth in feeling—and when we’re connected to these inner resources, we are in alignment and can live our best authentic life.
Trauma violates this connection within us and disrupts our ability to bond freely with others.”
Dr. Anderson helps us see trauma as inherent in the human condition – something that affects us all. This view is consonant with what other experts are saying.
Being a human being is hard and painful. When we know this is true, another dimension can emerge for us, a new lens to look compassionately upon ourselves and others. We can use what we see here to be curious about the dynamics that exist in our relational fields.
There are varying classifications of trauma, based in part on the severity and frequency of traumatic events, of course. But as a starting place, I’m hoping to invite us to see trauma as a basic part of being a human.
More Resources About Trauma and Spirituality
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Coming Home: Finding Fluency in My Inner Landscape
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Reconnecting to Inner Wisdom: A Deep Dive
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Trauma-Supporting Spiritual Care
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![Gray letters on a white background "A Podcast Exploring Spiritual Trauma & Healing]()
A Podcast by Dr. Hillary McBride, Holy/Hurt
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Being with Others When They are in Pain
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![A view from the underside of a magnolia tree. The bright sun is visible through the tangled branches.]()
Dysregulation as Prophetic Voice
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Incredible Hulk Moments: Dr. Jacob Ham with a Metaphor for Trauma
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Living Centered at the Intersection of Trauma & Spirituality Podcast Episode
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Tapestry of Wisdom: Trauma, a curated collection
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Teachers and Thresholds
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![YouTube Video with Red Play button over a gray circle with white text "Healing from Trauma" and a drawing of the nervous system and brain]()
Trauma and the Nervous System, A Polyvagal Perspective
