It was hard for me to choose an image for this post. I finally decided this one is the most inclusive and best reflects the struggle pretty well.
There are so many types of addiction, drugs, alcohol, food, shopping, social media, gaming, gambling. Each one deserves individual attention. But, in this blog post, I'm going to focus on the trauma behind the most destructive addictions.
SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration reports the national average of child abuse and neglect victims in 2015 was 683,000. The pain that accompanies abuse is so much that many young and not-so-young people are looking for a way to numb the pain. While others are looking for thrill and excitement to make them feel alive. Childhood trauma is often behind addiction.
Get gets complicated really fast. Parent want to help their young ones before their life is ruined. Family and friends care so much but aren't sure which way to turn for help. The choices are to use your insurance for ta treatment center, pray and believe or find other alternative approaches.
To make matters worse, many believers are suspicious of treatment that doesn't include a faith component. At the same time, some treatments centers often exclude any form of spirituality.
Some programs say clients aren't interested any faith in a treatment program
Some programs feel faith programs are judgmental or controlling
The one in need may feel like they won't fit in at a faith-based treatment program if they aren't very religious.
They may also feel like religion will force down their throat
On the other hand, those with faith feel like they can't share their opinion in this politically correct environment.
The best options are a combination of trauma-informed care and a hopeful expectation that God won't reject or judge them. Instead, he will walk alongside them.
John 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made.
God gave us the trauma-informed approach and God gave his son! That's why I say we should combine both! There's no need to separate them. If you need a faith-based treatment center they're out there. They are fewer and further between than most programs that exclude faith. But they are out there. In some cases, where you don't need an inpatient program, I can help. I use a trauma-informed care approach combined with powerful encounters to heal you at the heart level.
Wanna talk? email me at pinneyl@pittsburghtransformationcenter.com
Lisa Pinney is a certified encounter coach and the founder of Pittsburgh Transformation Center. She is an expert in working with hurting people to help them experience healing and emotional wholeness through deep personal encounters with God. She trains others to become resiliency coaches. She is the author of the book DEEPER, Living the Christian Life in the Deep Down. Lisa is the developer of CUT CARDS. A groundbreaking, faith-filled, therapeutic deck cards based on scriptural principles and cognitive behavior therapy. She is a speaker and conducts DEEPER STILL CONTEMPLATIVE RETREATS.
Her mission and call are to see the message of emotional healing through Christ become as much a part of the regular Christian experience as reading, worship, and prayer are.