Assessing and Treating Trauma Impacts in Religious and Spiritual Populations: Introduction to the Special Issue

Within the current Zeitgeist, the language of trauma is ubiquitous. This special issue brings the psychological treatment of trauma and Indigenous (e.g., cultural, religious) healing frameworks into conversation, rather than privileging one over the other. The included studies engage an intersubjective understanding of trauma impacts. They do not assume that trauma can be reduced to an event nor is it synonymous with a particular diagnosis (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder). Research consistently shows that exposure to chronic or extreme stress can increase both psychological and spiritual vulnerabilities. There is also substantial evidence that (a) spiritual resources can contribute substantially to recovery from trauma and that (b) spiritual struggles and distress can compound mental health challenges and impede healing. This special issue considers the need for novel approaches to address growing levels of mental health needs and inadequate numbers of trained providers in mental health services. We propose clinics and religious/spiritual communities as complementary healing loci to support resilience and recovery among those for whom religion and/or spirituality are salient. The included articles describe innovative assessment and intervention possibilities across three broad areas: mental health treatment, community-based settings, and the training of key stakeholders in trauma responsiveness.