A Compassionate Approach to the Spirituality of Adult Christian Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse (original) (raw)

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse often suffer from the psychological effects of chronic shame and trauma. Many adult survivors turn to psychotherapy and spirituality for healing. Psychotherapies such as Compassion Focused Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization (EMDR) can help to heal trauma. This paper presents a psycho-spiritual model of treating trauma that integrates the insights of psychotherapy and spirituality. It offers a concept of grace working through psychotherapy in healing trauma. This paper also documents some of the compassionate work of adult survivors who have undergone a transformative journey of psychological and spiritual healing. These transformations have been despite, not because of, Christian faith communities. Some faith communities, rather than being compassionate, have vilified survivors. This has often been the case when the perpetrator has been a member of the clergy. The theology of mercy, advocated by Pope Francis, invites faith communities to examine themselves as recipients of God's mercy, as a measure of humble, compassionate and authentic mission. In this study, compassionate professionals and clergy, working with survivors, provide insights into how faith communities can extend compassionate support to survivors. They describe how, when ministers and pastoral workers provide an emotionally supportive space for adult survivors, this can be a sacramental encounter with Christ. They also describe how ministering to survivors with the Eucharist can be a source of healing and inclusion. This paper also acknowledges diocesan work undertaken with survivors in the form of Eucharistic liturgies with survivor participation in the experience. These liturgies aim to confer both a sense of healing and inclusion in the life of the faith community. Survivors bring gifts to faith communities and the wider world, borne of healing and transformation. Faith communities through recognising the gifts survivors bring, honour them as equals.