THI Pillars

The Trauma Healing Institute exists to empower people in churches and parachurch ministries to help bring healing to hurting people. We know that trauma healing isn’t easy. That’s why we’ve developed a program that’s ready to use, built on scripture and proven mental health practices. It’s why we’ve worked hard to make our program user-friendly and accessible, and why we’ve developed a library of resources to help people heal from whatever trauma they’re facing. 

Our program is built on four pillars. Each one is important to our mission. And together they form the foundation that supports our program. They represent what makes our program different. And they’re at the heart of what we do. 

Healing in Community 

Trauma keeps people from experiencing the life-transforming message of God’s Word. It can make people feel isolated from their relationships, their bodies, their thoughts and their faith. That’s why community is so important to our healing process. 

Healing groups are small group experiences uniquely designed for individuals affected by trauma, grief, and loss. In these small group settings, certified healing group leaders bring together proven mental health practices and the wisdom of the Bible in a way that’s accessible and begins to remove those roadblocks.  

These groups are safe spaces that help those who suffer learn how to reconnect with others, themselves and God. The participatory format helps people find their voice, tell their story, and unlock doors that have been closed to healing. 

In the safe space of a healing group, hurting people can ask God the hard questions and lament without judgment or shame. 

Equipping Local Churches 

Trauma, grief, and loss exist in every community. That’s why we make it possible for local churches to be part of the healing process. Our resources use existing tools of the church—the Bible and community—coupled with mental health best practices to equip the church to respond.  

We know that trauma healing is hard, even for churches that truly want to be a part of it. We’ve worked to create a ready-to-use suite of programs that work with resources churches already have: small groups, caring leaders, and faith in God’s boundless love. We provide the training needed for facilitators in the program—no special experience or advanced degrees required. 

We believe every church can be a place of healing. Our training and Bible-based resources make it possible for ordinary people to become healing group leaders in their communities and be part of God’s call to heal those who are hurting. 

Trustworthy, Faith-Driven Program 

Our program utilizes proven mental health practices and lessons we’ve learned from working with trauma-affected people for over 20 years. But what gives our program its power is its foundation: the Word of God. 

When individuals with heart wounds are scripture-engaged, they experience lower levels of stress, higher levels of hope, and flourish more than trauma-free people who are not scripture-engaged. Research has shown that our Bible-based program can significantly reduce PTSD, trauma-related grief, and negative emotions, as well as increasing Bible and spiritual engagement. God’s Word has power. And that’s why it guides our program. 

The Trauma Healing Institute has operated as a part of the American Bible Society since 2010, but has been used by the church since 2001. A 9-member alliance of ecumenical Christian organizations supports and advises our work. And since 2002, More than 240,000 people have encountered the power of God’s word through Trauma Healing groups. 

Accessible Technology 

Trauma healing should be easily accessible to all people. That’s why we developed our own easy-to-use app, [app name], which delivers both training and curriculum in audio and video formats, in various languages, so that our program can be used quickly and easily around the world.  

Our app streamlines reporting, communication, and program management, giving facilitators, participants, and church leaders up-to-date information through a time-saving process. It also allows us to offer program participants more Bible-based resources, offer a space for them to connect with others, and even become trained to help.  

A proven program like Trauma Healing available in the palm of the hand makes it possible for thousands more people to process the pain of trauma, grief, and loss in safe spaces while engaging with the Bible and the healing power of God. And an easy-to-use format makes sure that technology will never be a barrier to those seeking healing from their trauma. 

These four pillars make us who we are. We identified them because they’re so important to our work in equipping churches to bring healing to hurting people in their communities. And we will continue to invest in them to make sure our program continues to make an impact in real people’s lives. 

Learn more about our trauma healing program at traumahealinginstitute.org.