Is Trauma-Informed Counseling Biblical or Dangerous?

Is trauma-informed counseling biblical—or is it undermining the sufficiency of Scripture?In this episode of Remnant Radio, we take a careful, biblical look at trauma-informed care, responding to recent critiques from pastors, biblical counselors, and theologians who argue that trauma-informed counseling is harming the church. Some claim that if Christians would simply repent, trust Jesus, and obey Scripture, trauma-informed approaches would be unnecessary—or even dangerous.So how should Christians think about trauma, trauma-informed counseling, and trauma-informed therapy?In Part One of this two-part discussion, we begin by defining trauma and trauma-informed care, ensuring we are speaking clearly and accurately. We then distinguish between trauma-informed pastoral counseling and trauma-informed therapy, including approaches such as EMDR, somatic experiencing, internal family systems, and polyvagal-informed therapy.We examine whether trauma-informed counseling is supported by Scripture by turning to the Book of Job, one of the Bible’s most extensive treatments of suffering, trauma, and pastoral response. Job’s condemnation of his friends as “miserable comforters” provides a sobering warning against theologically misinformed counsel that intensifies suffering rather than alleviating it.This episode also addresses key theological concerns, including:-The sufficiency of Scripture for salvation and sanctification-The doctrine of common grace and its relationship to medicine, psychology, and therapy-Whether trauma-informed care excuses sin or undermines repentance-How physiological trauma responses differ from sinful anxiety-Whether modern psychology should ever be subordinate to biblical authorityPart Two will move into practical application, offering a biblical framework for trauma-informed care that upholds Scripture, guards against theological compromise, and equips pastors, counselors, and Christians to care well for those who have suffered trauma. To be released next week!0:00 – Introduction0:10 – Public Critiques of Trauma-Informed Care1:53 – Defining Trauma3:16 – Defining Trauma-Informed Care4:29 – Is Trauma-Informed Counsel Biblical?7:39 – Three Ways Trauma-Informed Care Goes Wrong10:26 – Is Trauma-Informed Therapy Biblical?12:01 – The Sufficiency of Scripture15:20 – God Gives Common Grace19:41 – Common Grace and Obedience21:48 – ConclusionSubscribe to The Remnant Radio newsletter and receive our FREE introduction to spiritual gifts eBook. Plus, get access to: discounts, news about upcoming shows, courses and conferences - and more. Subscribe now at TheRemnantRadio.com.Support the showABOUT THE REMNANT RADIO: The Remnant Radio exists to equip believers who are hungry for the radical middle of both Word and Spirit. Subscribe for twice-weekly content on theology, church history and the gifts of the Spirit.📧 SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER 📚 COURSES & CONFERENCES 🛒 SHOP MERCH 💝 SUPPORT OUR MINISTRY: • Leave a Tip• Become a Patron• Make a Tax-Deductible Donation  🌐📧 Check Out Our Church PagesJosh's ChurchMiller's ChurchRowntree's Church