Practices to Heal Trauma Series-Part 2: Mind Practices to Heal Trauma discusses what kinds of therapies work the most effectively in healing trauma. This episode is the second of four episodes in the series, and it covers five mind practices that can contribute to healing trauma when practiced on a regular basis: Meditation, Affirmations, Journaling, Mindfulness, and Visualization.
Each modality is broken down by what is the practice, disclaimers (if any) about the practice, how the practice works and how to do it, evidence of its impact and healing in trauma, recommended resources, and strategies from my experience. These practices, in these four episodes, are broken down in a way to help you decide, pray, and discern which practices you might use to help you heal trauma.
Breakdown of Episode:
1:16 Intro to Topic
3:35 Breakdown of this Four-Part Series and Episode
8:15 Intro to Mind Practices to Heal Trauma
9:08 Practice 1: Meditation
21:57 Practice 2: Affirmations
30:27 Practice 3: Journaling
37:44 Practice 4: Mindfulness
57:52 Practice 5: Visualization
Bulleted List of Resources
• "Twelve Science-Based Benefits of Meditation?" in Healthline
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-benefits-of-meditation
• Abide Christian and Biblical Meditation App
https://abide.co/
Their mission: "For the world to experience the peace of Christ through Biblical meditation."
• Hallow Catholic Prayer and Meditation App
https://hallow.com/
On the website: "Find peace. Pray your way. Build a Habit."
• World Community for Christian Meditation
https://wccm.org/
On the website: "The WCCM is a global spiritual community united in the practice of meditation in the Christian tradition."
• Rhonda Jones, Christian Meditation Teacher
https://thechristianmeditator.com/
On the website: "Christian meditation is a powerful spiritual discipline that can change your life and relationship with God. For centuries, Christians have practiced Christian Meditation to reduce stress, overcome worry and negative thoughts, find inner healing, draw closer to God, and live a more authentic and spiritual Christian life."
• Insight Timer Meditation App
https://insighttimer.com/
On the website: "#1 FREE app for sleep, anxiety, and stress."
• Calm Meditation App
https://www.calm.com/
On website: "Find your calm. Our goal is to help you improve your health and happiness."
• The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097JPJQZT/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Description: "With the practical techniques outlined in this book, you can energize your life and give yourself the initiative needed to carry out your ambitions and hopes."
• The Center for Journal Therapy
https://journaltherapy.com/
Mission: "To make the art and science of journal writing accessible to all who desire self-directed change."
• Writing Down Your Soul by Janet Conner
https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Down-Your-Soul-Extraordinary-ebook/dp/B07YHL6NSJ
"How to activate and listen to the extraordinary voice within." This book shows you how to activate and access your subconscious mind for healing change.
• "Mindfulness: A Christian Approach" in Focus on the Family
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/family-qa/mindfulness-a-christian-approach/
This is a general article about mindfulness, its uses, and how Christians can discern appropriate ways to use mindfulness in Christian life.
• Check out the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn on mindfulness. He's a leading expert in this field.
https://www.mindfulnesscds.com/
• Stanford Medicine Mindfulness Resources
https://wellmd.stanford.edu/healthy/mindfulness.html
This list includes general resources to learn about mindfulness and start a mindfulness practice/practice mindfulness in daily life. If you're not sure where to start on mindfulness, start here.
• "Mindfulness Meditation May Ease Anxiety, Mental Stress" by Julie Corliss in Harvard health Publishing
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/mindfulness-meditation-may-ease-anxiety-mental-stress-201401086967
This article shows medical evidence for how mindfulness meditation can relieve stress, ease anxiety, and improve health, which are often the result of trauma.
• A.C.O.R.N Is an acronym I created of a strategy for helping us deal with difficult emotions that are triggered by trauma or just stresses through the day. Check out Episode 11 of this podcast for the A.C.O.R.N technique, particularly the last few minutes of this podcast.
• Slow Recording of Neurons Making New Connections/Rewiring Themselves
Slow recording of neurons, making new connections with other neurons