Summary
Loss, crisis, trauma, and death are some of the most difficult challenges people will face. Caring individuals want to help those suffering, but often they simply do not know what to do or say. H. Norman Wright (2011) provides a highly accessible work geared to help pastors, chaplains, and laypeople minister to those in their darkest hours. In general, Wright’s work focuses primarily on the overarching topics of loss, crisis, trauma, death, and suicide. Within each of these categories, the author first describes the topic, then helps the counselor recognize the issue, highlights the steps or phases the counselee will likely experience, and finally, recommends specific ideas the counselor can use to assist the survivor. Wright also introduces various methods from leading authors to enhance the reader’s breadth of knowledge and access to resources. The purpose of the book is not to train ministers to be professional crisis counselors, but instead, to provide direction to those who want to minister to hurting people during such difficult times.
The Complete Guide to Crisis & Trauma Counseling What to Do and Say When It Matters Most! by Wright, H. Norman
Beginning by laying a biblical foundation of pastoral counseling, Wright (2011) highlights Jesus’s capacity to care for hurting people with compassion, encouragement, and hope (pp. 17-27). Wright sprinkles many of these biblical counseling principles, such as listening, inquiry, empathy, skillful confrontation, as well as building trust and rapport, throughout the remainder of his work. Wright then moves into the specific issue of loss, which ranges from the concrete, such as the loss of a loved one, to the abstract, such as the loss of identity (p. 67). Wright provides several helpful suggestions for caregivers to normalize and educate, which are two of the most important ways to help counselees face loss and deal with grief (p. 86). Also, numerous practical suggestions assist the counselee in learning to say goodbye such letter writing, journaling, and making amends (pp. 113-125).
Although related to loss, crisis often pertains to a sudden tragedy. Following his helpful methodology, Wright (2011) describes the elements of a crisis, provides advice regarding staying balanced, identifies the patterns of crisis response and recovery, and enumerates steps for intervention (pp. 127-185). Understanding these patterns help caregivers normalize and educate. Unfortunately, crisis events often lead to trauma. Although a referral to a professional is often necessary, the minister can deploy basic intervention procedures such as creating a safe environment, normalizing triggers and flashbacks, and helping the counselee take steps toward recovery (pp. 213-236). Death and suicide often fit the categories of loss, crisis, and trauma, but Wright provides a separate analysis for these challenges to highlight their nuances. Wright also identifies certain suicide myths and refines his approach to address situations such as the difficult task of breaking bad news to family members (pp. 302-327).
Wright recognizes that children and adolescents process crisis situations differently than adults. Learning to recognize unspoken anxiety, fear, and anger in children, as well as helping youngsters adjust by using playtime are examples of methods distinctive to children (Wright, 2011, pp. 372-383). Similarly, by understanding the unique power of peer acceptance and distinctive coping mechanisms of adolescents, such as withdrawing and rebelling, the minister is more prepared to utilize listening skills and empathy rather than to emotionally react (Wright, pp. 386-387, 404-413). By addressing the distinctives of adolescents and children, Wright provides valuable tools for caregivers to adjust their approach to the type of counselee. Finally, Wright concludes with a valuable segment on utilizing Scripture and prayer within a crisis counseling environment, which brings the biblical impetus for the book full circle (pp. 415-431).
Concrete Responses
The personal life episode that Wright’s book triggered in my memory was an emotional breakdown that I experienced when I was in grade school and highlights my interest in Wright’s work. A schoolmate of mine named Lori had leukemia. She set next to me in my second-grade class. During this time her hair started to fall out, and then she was gone. A year or two later, a friend named Michelle, who rode on my school bus, did not get on the bus. She had died in her sleep. I was confused and scared. I told my dad I was scared. My dad was a policeman and death was a common occurrence. My father replied, “Sometimes it happens.” I started having physical problems such as asthma, chest pains, and stomach issues. My doctor admitted me to a hospital for tests. Nothing was wrong. When I got home, I told my mom that I felt bad. My mother replied, “I don’t know what to tell you, but nothing is wrong with you, so you need to get over it.” I decided I would ignore my feelings and indeed “get over it.” Unfortunately, Wright (2011) insightfully explains, “The long-term effects of childhood trauma are often worse than the trauma itself” (p. 339). In my case, Wright is correct.
Fast forward about two decades later and I started having health issues again. Anxiety around death once again reared its head. I was responding to certain health and career issues in irrational ways. Fortunately, I had a licensed therapist who helped me recognize the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. She explained that I had never dealt with the trauma I had experienced as a child. In line with the insights of Wright (2011), my therapist provided a safe place for me to share embarrassing thoughts and beliefs (pp. 213-214). She also helped me deal with my intrusive thoughts, recognize my triggers, and understand my symptoms (Wright, pp. 213-217). Much progress has occurred, but I still struggle with triggers and must remind myself of God’s truth to replace the irrational thoughts and fears that still sometimes occur.
Reflection
The positive attributes of Wright’s book are numerous. First, Wright’s (2011) common-sense approach to helping clients is refreshing. For those with little to no counseling education, even basic counseling skills such as listening, empathy, and inquiry are critical to caring for hurting individuals. Second, Wright’s numerous references to other authors’ approaches, such as Jeffrey Mitchell’s critical incident stress debriefing, provides the reader with an introduction to various methods and additional resources to explore (pp. 226-230). Third, Wright’s book provides a format that can be used as a reference manual by ministers to quickly refer to when specific crisis situations arise. The primary question that arose while reading was how Wright’s work can be implemented into my current ministry efforts.
A few weaknesses detract. First, at times, Wright provides a potpourri of ideas without a linear thought path. For example, regarding helping trauma survivors, Wright (2011) provides tools to create a safe environment but lacks implementation guidelines regarding the recovery process and goals (pp. 213-236). Furthermore, some of Wright’s suggestions such as desensitization and relaxation techniques would normally be administered by a licensed counselor (pp. 219-220). Accordingly, Wright’s work appears to sometimes blur the lines between a pastoral counselor and licensed counselor. Granted, overlap is common, but additional clarity regarding distinctions would prove beneficial. Finally, although Wright does refer to Jesus’s methods of care, the virtual absence of the gospel creates concern. For instance, the impact of loss is often exacerbated because an individual’s identity is wrapped up in the item lost, such as a career or spouse, rather than in Christ. The integration of the gospel needs to be a staple of all Christian crisis counseling. The primary question arising from the weaknesses is how I can integrate the gospel into a crisis care ministry program within my ministry.
Action
Lives Transforming Group (LTG) is a non-profit Christian counseling and coaching ministry I founded a number years ago. LTG currently has five licensed counselors on staff with several discipleship coaches. The focus of the counseling has been primarily on anxiety, depression, and relationships, but not crisis counseling. In response to the questions raised in the reflection section above, the action plan is to integrate a crisis counseling initiative that integrates the gospel into the LTG ministry.
The specifics of communicating the action plan entail three steps. First, I will meet with my counseling staff and discuss the possibility of a crisis hotline and response system for our clients. Second, I will work with the LTG team to develop a plan that allows appropriate level response from our non-licensed discipleship coaches to those in crisis. Third, and most importantly, I will integrate the gospel message into a crisis response system. More specifically, I will summarize the basic concepts outlined in Wright’s book regarding crisis response and add a discussion regarding leaning on Christ for self-worth, value, and identity when individuals may be feeling as if they are losing their identity due to loss, crisis, trauma or death.
Personally, considering my own childhood trauma, I have often shied away from helping people in crisis. In the past, I would immediately refer individuals in crisis to one of the LTG licensed counselors. However, the tools Wright provides have given me hope that I can help in certain crisis situations. Accordingly, I plan to begin responding to people in crisis as God brings people into my life rather than immediately referring. Also, I plan to continue to work on my own PTSD responses around certain triggers to be able to extend ministry to those in crisis by using my experience and story to help others.
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Reference
- Wright, H. N. (2011). The complete guide to crisis & trauma Counseling: What to do and say when it matters most! Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House.
