NEW self-paced course
 
Explore the theological and pastoral care needs of those who experience various forms of trauma to better equip yourself to provide more effective pastoral care.
 
Trauma-informed care is a ministry of presence, patience, and deep listening. By embracing these principles, we become partners in healing, allowing individuals and communities to find restoration, strength, and grace.
 
Trauma affects a person’s emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being, and requires thoughtful and intentional pastoral care. Healing trauma is not an isolated process, but a communal one that calls us to see individuals not as problems to be fixed but as whole persons with lived experiences that shape them. 
 
We can create sacred space for healing through listening, silence, and shared spiritual practices. Spirituality and body-based practices can be powerful tools in trauma recovery, offering grounding, renewal, and strength for both caregivers and those they serve.
 
We must remember that healing from trauma is a journey, not a destination. We help individuals and communities move toward renewal and hope by fostering trust, self-awareness, and supportive relationships.
 
In this course we will explore the principles and practices of trauma-informed care so that you will be better able to provide more meaningful and effective pastoral care. We will learn how trauma impacts individuals, communities, and faith spaces in profound ways. We will consider holistic care approaches for leaders and congregations to foster healing, growth, and justice for individuals, families, and communities. And we will examine how care is not just about offering solutions but about bearing witness, cultivating trust, and creating spaces of safety and resilience.
 
This course includes videos, readings, quizzes, and reflections and practices to ensure your thorough understanding of course materials.
 
Course learning outcomes
 
Identify the signs and symptoms of trauma.
Construct and refine pastoral theological and psychological theory to frame the practice of intercultural and trauma-informed pastoral care.
Analyze the interplay of personal, environmental, and communal factors in traumatic experiences and how to leverage change for the protection and safety of individuals, families, and congregations.
Engage trauma-informed body practices with individuals and groups to increase relational awareness and foster psychospiritual growth.
 
Course modules
 
Module One: Is it Stress or Trauma
Module Two: Images of Care: Shaping Practice
Module Three: Trauma Overview
Module Four: Tending the Web: Bearing Witness and Resilience
Module Five: Trauma-Informed Care Responses: For Individuals and Communities
Conclusion
 
Presenter
 
Michael Koppel is the Howard Chandler Robbins Professor of Pastoral Theology and Congregational Care and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. He is an ordained teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and has served as pastor, campus minister, hospital clinical care supervisor, hospice chaplain, and youth minister.