Have you ever wanted to have a difficult conversation with someone, but you didn’t know how? Perhaps you’ve had a friend lose a loved one or a neighbor who’s lost his job. Maybe you know a couple that is struggling with their teen, or a relative whose home was destroyed by fire. How do you come alongside people who are facing such difficult situations?? You want to help; you want to show that you care, but you are afraid you will say the wrong thing and make matters worse. The Basic Trauma Care Training offered by Reach Global Crisis Response provides helpful tools for coming alongside others in times of crisis or distress.
Basic Trauma Care is about LISTENING! People who face difficult challenges need to talk, which means they need people who are willing to listen. Some people are naturally good listeners, but most of us are not. We like to talk. We like to share our ideas and offer advice more than we like to listen. The RGCR Basic Trauma Care Training helps people become equipped to listen well. When we listen well, people feel heard and understood, and they move toward healing.
Basic Trauma Care is also about ASKING POWERFUL QUESTIONS. Questions are the tool that unlock our understanding. By asking questions that invite someone to share their story, they can understand their own experiences better and begin to explore their thoughts and feelings. When a person has gone through a crisis or another a difficult experience, the opportunity to share their story, explore their thoughts, and begin to identify their feelings is a huge part of the healing process.
The Trauma Care Training offered through Reach Global Crisis Response is based on time-tested psychological principles coupled with Biblical teaching about caring for those in need. It prepares lay people to come alongside those impacted by crisis in a way that opens doors for healing. By inviting others to share their stories and explore their thoughts and feelings, we help them to move from being victims of their situation to being survivors and even thrivers.
If you are interested in learning more about Trauma Care Training or would like to schedule a training for your church or community group, please contact me at gail.degray@efca.org.
If you would like to contribute to the ministry of Reach Global Crisis Response or to my personal funding, use this link: Giving to DeGray