Trauma and Pastoral Care: A Practical Handbook

This handbook is for leaders who are faced with leading an individual or a church community through a traumatic event and its aftermath. It arises out of the Tragedy and Congregations Project which helps churches to respond in a healthy way to the impact of tragedies through training in good practice, careful reflection, and personal resilience. *Part One examines the physical and mental impact of trauma, and offers a rapid response pastoral toolkit and guidance on appropriate continuing care. *Part Two offers pastoral and liturgical strategies for collective trauma, suggests 'habits of the heart' that will build resilience. *Part Three reflects on the challenging theological questions that arise and the emergence of deeper, more nuanced understandings of God.