What Type of Therapy is Best for Childhood Trauma? Tools Used in Christian Counseling
When the Past Still Hurts
You pushed through life with grit—surviving because you had to. Yet the effects of unresolved childhood trauma still show up in your daily life. You may notice it in your constant anxiety, your need to please others, or the emotional numbness that keeps you from truly feeling safe. Your nervous system stays on alert, warning you not to trust anyone. As a Christian woman, you’ve likely prayed your way through countless triggers, read faith-based books, and tried to apply their wisdom—only to find yourself stuck in the same patterns.
Christian counseling offers a space to begin healing step by step. It allows you to walk your journey alongside a personal guide who stays attuned to the Holy Spirit and provides the calm, regulated presence your nervous system has long needed.
Understanding Childhood Trauma
For many years, people have talked about childhood trauma, often imagining it as something that only happens in extreme situations—like abuse or major loss. Yet trauma can take many forms. It simply means that something happened that your nervous system wasn’t ready to handle.
In childhood, trauma can look like ongoing emotional neglect, unpredictable moods from a caregiver, or growing up in a home where someone struggled with mental health or addiction. These experiences leave lasting marks on how you view safety, trust, and relationships—including your relationship with God.
Trauma actually changes how your brain processes information. It shapes your beliefs about yourself, your sense of worth, and how you understand your identity as a daughter of God.
You may have unresolved childhood trauma if you:
Feel overly sensitive to stress
Struggle to stay calm with your children or spouse
Carry deep shame or harsh self-criticism
Feel constant pressure to be perfect
Notice emotional numbness or distance from others
Have trouble allowing yourself to feel or express emotions
Live under a steady weight of guilt
The good news is that healing is absolutely possible. Trauma doesn’t define who you are—it’s simply part of your story. With faith, support, and intentional healing, you can begin to experience peace again.
What Makes Trauma Therapy Different
Trauma therapy is different from standard talk therapy. In traditional talk therapy, the focus is often on understanding how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect. Trauma therapy, on the other hand, helps you tune in to what your body is communicating—learning to listen to the signals from your nervous system.
If you’ve never been in trauma therapy before, this might sound unfamiliar. At its core, it means paying attention to the cues your body gives you—your racing heart, the tightness in your stomach, or the jittery feeling in your hands and feet—and allowing your body to process what it once held onto. This is called bottom-up healing, where you connect with your body first. In contrast, top-down healing focuses on convincing your body with your mind that you are safe.
In trauma therapy, we often begin with the body because healing safety in your nervous system opens the door for your thoughts and emotions to follow. The process happens at your own pace, never forced or rushed, and always centered around emotional safety.
Types of Therapy Proven Effective for Childhood Trauma
There are many times of borrow up therapies that can be helpful as you heal from childhood trauma wounds.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
EMDR is one of the most effective tools for helping the brain reprocess painful memories that still feel “alive.” During EMDR, the therapist guides you through gentle sets of eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation while you recall specific experiences. This helps your brain file those memories into the past, where they belong, instead of reliving them in the present.
As a Christian therapist, I often invite clients to pair EMDR with Scripture and prayer—placing the memory at the feet of Jesus and allowing Him to hold the pain. Over time, what once felt unbearable can begin to soften. You may still remember what happened, but the emotional sting lessens, and peace begins to take its place.
EMDR is especially helpful for women who have intrusive or distressing memories that still trigger strong emotions, body sensations, or shame. It allows both your mind and body to finally exhale.
Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy focuses on helping you reconnect with your body—because trauma is stored not just in your mind, but in your nervous system. This type of therapy teaches grounding, breathwork, and gentle body awareness to help calm your internal stress response.
From a Christian perspective, somatic work can be deeply spiritual. It’s a way to practice mindfulness through prayer—inviting God’s presence into your body’s tension and anxiety. As you slow your breathing, you might meditate on a short prayer like, “Peace of Christ, fill me,” aligning each breath with a reminder that the Holy Spirit dwells within you.
Somatic therapy reminds us that our bodies are not the enemy—they’re part of how God designed us to experience healing and connection.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)-Informed Christian Counseling
IFS-informed therapy, often called “parts work,” is a gentle approach to understanding the different emotional parts within us. These parts may carry pain, fear, or protective roles that developed when you were younger. Rather than pushing them away, IFS invites curiosity and compassion—helping each part find comfort and healing through the presence of Christ.
This process reflects the Biblical truth of renewal through the Holy Spirit. Just as God restores broken places in our hearts, He can comfort and redeem the wounded parts of our inner world. You don’t have to battle those inner voices alone; they can be guided by the loving leadership of your healed, Spirit-led self.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Renewing the Mind
CBT focuses on identifying and reshaping the thoughts that keep you stuck in shame or fear. Many of these beliefs formed during childhood—messages like “I’m unlovable,” “I’m too much,” or “God is disappointed in me.” These are not God’s truths, but deeply ingrained patterns that can be renewed through awareness and grace.
In Scripture, we’re reminded to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). CBT aligns beautifully with this principle. Through gentle reflection and practice, you learn to replace lies with truth—reframing how you see yourself, your past, and your relationship with God. Over time, this creates lasting change in how you feel and respond to life.
The Power of Faith Integration in Trauma Healing
I highly recommend that Christians looking to heal from their childhood trauma are purposeful to seek out a Christian counselor trained in Trauma. It’s important for your therapist to understand your worldview and values as a follower of Christ. Your faith influences every decision you make, and at times, these values may stand in contrast to the culture around you.
When you meet with a secular therapist, you may still find understanding and helpful insight, but the framework guiding that process may not reflect a biblical perspective. In Christian counseling, your healing is viewed through the lens of God’s truth and grace—not just psychological theory.
A Christian therapist helps you invite God into the memories of trauma, reframe your pain through grace, release shame, and pray through the process of forgiveness. Over time, this allows you to form a secure attachment to Christ—the one who is constant, safe, and present with you no matter what you’re walking through.
In Christian counseling, we often integrate tools such as prayer, journaling, Scripture meditation, and breathwork—inviting Christ into every part of your healing, including EMDR sessions when appropriate.
Practical Tools Used in Christian Trauma Counseling
Grounding exercises with Scripture
Grounding exercises help calm your nervous system and bring your body back to the present moment. When we’ve experienced trauma, our minds often drift to the past or anticipate future danger, leaving us feeling anxious or disconnected. Grounding helps us return to safety—body, mind, and spirit.
As Christians, we can take this practice even deeper by combining grounding with Scripture. One simple and powerful example comes from Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”
You can turn this verse into a gentle breathing prayer:
Breathe in slowly and think, “Be still…”
Exhale slowly and think, “…and know that I am God.”
Repeat several times, allowing the words to settle into your heart.
This rhythm of breath and Scripture reminds your body that you are safe in God’s presence right now. Over time, your nervous system begins to recognize stillness as safety—not danger.
Grounding with Scripture can be done anywhere—while washing dishes, sitting in your car, or before bed. It’s a simple way to align your body’s natural calming system with the truth of God’s Word, helping you practice feeling peace, even in the middle of a dysfunctional family gathering.
Christ-Centered Mindfulness
Mindfulness is about being present—fully aware of what is happening in your body, your surroundings, and your spirit in this very moment. For those healing from trauma, mindfulness helps calm the nervous system and anchor you when memories or emotions feel overwhelming.
In Christian counseling, mindfulness takes on an even deeper meaning. It’s not just about noticing what you feel—it’s about noticing Who is with you in the moment. When you invite Christ into the space of your memories, you’re no longer alone in them.
One way to practice this is through a five-senses grounding exercise while gently holding a younger, hurting version of yourself in mind:
Notice five things you can see. Look around your room or visualize the scene of your memory. Imagine Jesus there with you—His eyes full of compassion, His presence steady and kind.
Notice four things you can touch. Feel your feet against the floor, your hands resting in your lap, or the warmth of a soft blanket. Sense His peace surrounding you like a gentle covering.
Notice three things you can hear. Maybe the sound of your own breath, birds outside, or the quiet reminder that “My sheep hear My voice” (John 10:27).
Notice two things you can smell. An oil diffuser, a cup of tea, or even the freshness of the air—simple reminders of God’s creation that ground you in the here and now.
Notice one thing you can taste. Take a slow breath, and imagine what it means to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8).
As you move through these steps, picture Christ sitting beside that younger version of you—the one who felt afraid, unseen, or unloved. Imagine Him reaching out, speaking words of truth and safety over her. Let His presence fill the room of your memory, transforming it from a place of pain into a place of peace.
Christ-centered mindfulness helps you tune into your senses and your Savior, creating space for healing to happen gently—body, mind, and spirit together.
Inner Child Work through Compassion and Prayer
Inner child work is a powerful part of trauma healing. It involves gently connecting with the younger versions of yourself who learned to survive through fear, shame, or striving. These parts of you often still carry the emotional weight of what happened, even if your adult self knows you’re safe now.
In therapy, we approach these younger parts not with judgment, but with compassion. Instead of trying to silence them or “get over it,” we learn to listen with kindness. When you imagine the child within you—perhaps scared, lonely, or desperate for love—you begin to see how much she needed comfort and safety. That tenderness becomes the doorway to healing.
As a Christian, you have an even deeper source of comfort available to you in this process: prayer. When you invite Christ into your inner child work, you can picture Him kneeling beside that younger version of you—His eyes full of gentleness, His voice calling you “Beloved.” You might pray something like:
“Jesus, show me where You were in this memory. Help me see Your compassion for the child I once was. Heal the places that still ache. Teach me to love her with the same grace You’ve shown me.”
Prayer invites the Holy Spirit to minister directly to the parts of you that never felt seen or soothed. Over time, the fear that once felt consuming begins to ease, replaced by the assurance that you are fully loved and never alone.
Inner child work through compassion and prayer helps you integrate your past with your present—allowing your younger self to rest safely in the care of both your adult self and your Savior.
Bilateral Stimulation Paired with Worship or Prayer Visualization
Bilateral stimulation is a key technique used in therapies like EMDR, where gentle, rhythmic movements or taps help your brain process difficult memories. When SLOW tapping is paired with worship or prayer, this tool can become even more powerful, allowing your heart, mind, and body to work together in God’s presence.
In this practice, you might gently follow a visual or tactile rhythm—such as moving your eyes from side to side, tapping your knees alternately, or listening to music with a steady beat. As you do this, you pair the movement with a Scripture, prayer, or worship song. For example, you might focus on a verse like:
“Be Still and Know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)
This combination helps your nervous system feel safe while your mind sits with Jesus. Unlike simply recalling a memory, bilateral stimulation encourages your body and brain to “digest” the emotion, while worship or prayer reminds you that Christ is present in every part of your healing journey.
Women often find that pairing these techniques with faith not only softens the intensity of difficult memories but also creates a profound sense of peace and connection to God. Over time, the memories lose their power to control your emotions, and you begin to experience freedom that is both psychological and spiritual.
Prayer Journaling
Journaling is a simple yet powerful way to process emotions, uncover patterns, and invite God into your healing journey. When paired with Scripture and prayer, journaling becomes more than just writing—it becomes an open conversation with God, helping you see your experiences through His truth.
Here are some prompts to help guide your reflections:
Reflect on God’s Presence in Your Past:
“Where do I see God’s hand in my life, even during hard seasons?”
This helps you notice moments of grace, protection, or comfort you may have overlooked.Name the Lies and Replace Them with Truth:
“What lies have I believed about myself? How does God’s Word respond to these lies?”
For example, replace “I am unlovable” with Scripture like Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”Invite Christ Into Your Emotions:
“Which emotions am I avoiding, and how can I invite Jesus into them?”
Write down feelings of anger, fear, or sadness, and then offer them to Christ in prayer, imagining Him holding and comforting your heart.Connect Your Healing to Your Identity in Christ:
“Who am I in Christ, and how does that truth shape how I see myself today?”
Journaling here helps you internalize God’s promises and integrate them into your daily life.
Journaling in this way transforms your reflections into a spiritual practice. It allows your mind to process, heal, and your spirit to anchor in God’s promises—helping you integrate both emotional and spiritual restoration.
How Do I Know Which Therapy is Right for Me?
It’s normal to wonder which type of therapy will best support your healing journey. The truth is, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach, which is why it is important to connect with a therapist who offers an assortment of different approaches. What matters most is finding a space where you feel safe, understood, and spiritually aligned. Healing happens best when your nervous system feels secure, your experiences are validated, and your faith is honored.
Here are a few key factors to consider when choosing a therapist:
Emotional Safety: Do you feel seen, heard, and supported in the sessions? Your emotional safety is the foundation for lasting healing.
Understanding Trauma and Faith: Does the therapist have experience helping women navigate both trauma and the unique spiritual challenges that come with it?
Faith Integration: Are you invited to bring your relationship with God into the process? Healing that aligns with your beliefs can deepen both emotional and spiritual restoration.
If you’re unsure where to start, I invite you to schedule a free 20-minute consultation with me. During this time, we can talk through your questions, explore the approach that might work best for you, and see if we feel like a good fit together. There’s no pressure—just a welcoming, safe space to begin taking steps toward hope, peace, and healing.
Healing is Possible: Restoring Peace Through Christ
Healing from childhood trauma is not instant, and it often takes patience, prayer, and support—but it is absolutely possible. With God’s help, the pain that once felt overwhelming can be gently transformed into peace, freedom, and a deeper sense of wholeness.
As Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:28: “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” These words are not just for spiritual encouragement—they are a promise that the Healer Himself walks with you through the most painful parts of your story.
If you’re ready to begin walking toward healing, I invite you to take a step today. You can schedule a free consultation with me via email or call 419-270-3526 to explore Christian trauma therapy in a safe, supportive space. Or, if you’re not quite ready to talk, you can read more about trauma counseling in these articles to learn about the approaches, tools, and faith-centered practices that support lasting transformation.
Other Services Offered:
In addition to Christian trauma therapy, I offer a variety of services designed to support your emotional, relational, and spiritual growth. This includes EMDR for trauma and anxiety recovery, which helps reprocess painful memories and reduce their emotional intensity, as well as individual Christian counseling to address anxiety, depression, relational struggles, and spiritual questions. For women seeking faster progress, I offer EMDR intensives, and for those who have served in ministry, I provide a micro-niche focus: healing the healer, supporting women who give so much of themselves and need restoration for their own hearts.
I also offer faith-based mindfulness and stress-reduction practices, including Scripture meditation, prayer exercises, and grounding techniques to calm the nervous system. Alongside this, I use a cognitive-based approach to help you identify wounds you’ve experienced, lies of the enemy you’ve believed, and the protective promises you made to yourself that God never intended you to carry. Each of these services is designed to meet you where you are and guide you toward freedom, peace, and a deeper, stronger relationship with Christ.
