Resources for Addressing Mental Wellbeing, Safe Spaces, Spiritual Formation, Trauma, Abuse, Pornography, Domestic Abuse in Discipling Believers from Muslim Backgrounds
The following is a list of resources, curated by categories, that are available for equipping the church to be a vital part of mental health and wholeness and sound discipleship with believers from Muslim backgrounds. These provide helpful tools for awareness, equipping, supporting, and being able to walk with others with mental health issues, abuse, and trauma backgrounds and who may be harming others while trying to minimise their own pain.
Not only do each of the following areas affect those coming into the church from various backgrounds, including from Islam, but they also affect those in the church and in greater society. The statistics in the church alone are staggering.
If we, as the church, are to offer whole-life wellness and discipleship, it’s imperative we get equipped. Discipling and pastoral care for pre - and new - believers may also reveal unexposed issues in the lives of long-term believers.
Resources include those for outward expressions of inward issues, including trauma/abuse, but also the outworking of other-directed abuse and trauma (domestic and gender-based violence, including the effects of pornography). Victims sometimes become those who harm others.
Trauma and harm are not respecters of faith background, ethnicity or gender, although some forms disproportionally affect girls and women. In these difficult and uncertain times, we see anxiety, depression, and a host of other trauma responses rising. People have always been experiencing “Big T” trauma and “Little t” trauma, but the pandemic brought more devastation and uncertainty than most of us have ever seen in our lifetimes. The information coming from all quarters, locally to globally, repeats the deep concern regarding the avalanche of mental health issues that are now upon us. The pandemic has exacerbated long-term issues.
NHS Mental Health services have been overwhelmed for years. However, there are also good resources for the church to be equipped to be the healing community God designed us to be. We all want to offer meaningful help while having assurance that we are indeed helping and not harming. It is amazing that God calls us into these healing relationships and equips us through Holy Spirit, best practice resources given to the church, and in partnership with professional therapists to be the healing hands and hearts of the Lord right where we’re placed – as the local Body of Christ.
Many of the resources below offer a multiplicity of tools and trainings, including live and online training, books, interviews, and podcasts. The beauty of podcasts is that one can hear something multiple times, learn from PhD level therapists and researchers who make information available, and gain valuable repetition and affirmation of what one has been experiencing and learning.
Mental health and wellbeing are important across all ethnicities and faiths (or none). Although the honour/shame components of some faiths/cultures may seem to be different on the surface, the reality is that we are all affected by shame and relational styles of hiding, trying to minimise pain. Many faith groups are seeking how to deal with mental health/wellbeing issues. In fact, exploring these issues and tools offer the potential for new ways of inter-faith engagement.
All but two of the resources below have been developed by those who are distinctively Christian. Tools and resources given are applicable for believers from any background.
Download the pdf for live links (button at top of page).
Contents
GENERAL RESOURCES
BIBLICALLY BASED RESOURCES: TOOLS FOR WORKERS, DISCIPLERS, AND PASTORAL CARE TEAMS – GROUP AND INDEPENDENT STUDY
SOUL CARE FOR PROVIDERS/VOLUNTEERS
TRAINING FOR GROUPS AND CHURCHES
TRAUMA AND REFUGEES/ASYLUM SEEKERS
FORMING SAFE SPACE IN CHURCHES AND COMMUNITIES
SPIRITUAL FORMATION AND DISCIPLESHIP IN EMOTIONAL MATURITY AND WELLBEING
TRAUMA TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS
General Trauma
Trauma and Sexual Abuse
Storywork
Trauma and Dissociative Responses (Dissociation and Dissociative Identity Disorders – DiD)
ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACEs)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT & ADVICE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING
ADDRESSING PORNOGRAPHY
PODCASTS – all can be found through any podcast server (iTunes, Stitcher, Podcast Addict, etc.).
CREATIVITY AND WELLBEING
BOOKS ABOUT TRAUMA
PRAYER AND HEALING RETREAT CENTRES
GENERAL RESOURCES
Mind - For Better Health. www.mind.org.uk National Mental Health Charity, helpful for generally understanding mental health. This organisation offers resources (many at no cost) for individuals, businesses, and students.
Institute for Collective Trauma and Growth (ICTG) https://www.ictg.org/ This US-based organisation provides restorative strategies for leaders, organisations, and communities for personal and group growth after collective loss. Provides some faith-based training. Download Phases of Disaster Response chart: https://www.ictg.org/phases-of-disaster-response.html
BIBLICALLY BASED RESOURCES: TOOLS FOR WORKERS, DISCIPLERS, AND PASTORAL CARE TEAMS – GROUP AND INDEPENDENT STUDY
1. SOUL CARE FOR PROVIDERS/VOLUNTEERS
Overcoming Compassion Fatigue. https://learn.redcliffe.ac.uk/courses/compassion-fatigue course/
If you are someone who is involved in humanitarian work, volunteering for a charity or NGO, in aid or relief work, or, if you work in one of the caring professions, or in any kind of pastoral role or ministry, you no doubt have many one-off encounters with people who are experiencing difficult and sometimes traumatic life circumstances. This is a short course of four half-hour modules to help you identify, prevent, and recover from compassion fatigue, through good practices in self-care.
Understanding Anxiety.
https://www.faithwalking.us/understanding-anxiety-independent study/.
A Faithwalking offering, this four-session independent study course will help you understand the impact of anxiety in your life and provide tools to practice managing yourself better in anxious situations. It explores anxiety and its impacts, the patterns of reactivity to it, leads into helpful practices for overcoming it.
Introduction to Soul Care.
https://www.faithwalking.us/intro-soul-care-independent-study/
Another Faithwalking offering, this five-session independent study course will help you pay attention to the aliveness of your own soul. You will recognize the enemies of your soul and will be present to the struggle and the delight of caring for your soul as you minister to others.
2. TRAINING FOR GROUPS AND CHURCHES
Churches that Heal.
https://churchesthatheal.com/
An all new digital resource created by the Christian psychologist, Henry Cloud (author of Boundaries), and based on the iconic book, Changes that Heal. This was created in response to Christian leaders all over the world saying essentially: “we feel ill-equipped to handle the issues of mental health in our churches and we need a simple programme to help.” This helps leaders and pastoral care ministries to handle issues of trauma and mental health in their communities through a biblical and psychologically sound plan of healing. This is an insightful resource. Link to a preview here: https://churchesthatheal.com/preview-content/
Sanctuary Mental Health
https://www.sanctuarymentalhealth.org/
Mission: “Envisioning a future where the Church plays a vital role in supporting mental health and wellbeing in every community.“ Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries equips the Church to support mental health and wellbeing by providing resources that meaningfully engage the topics of faith and mental health. Content is developed in collaboration with theologians, psychologists, and people with lived experience of mental health challenges. These resources prepare communities of faith around the world to raise awareness, reduce stigma, support mental health, and promote mental wellbeing. Podcast and blogs available (see below in Podcasts). Their introductory course: https://www.sanctuarymentalhealth.org/sanctuary-course/
Mind and Soul Foundation.
www.mindandsoulfoundation.org.
Christian Emotional and Mental Health Resources. Equipping and Education through books, podcasts, etc. Includes the podcast found on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/mind-and-soul podcast/id375680041
3. TRAUMA AND REFUGEES/ASYLUM SEEKERS
The American Bible Society – Trauma Healing Institute. www.thi.americanbible.org
Stewards the Healing the Wounds of Trauma programme, supports global trauma healing and offers intense multi-day training for churches.
Life Transitions Refugee - Emotional Wellbeing & Resilience for Refugees. www.ltrefugee.org
Provides resources and training to community groups and charities supporting displaced people.
Refugee Resource.
https://www.refugeeresource.org.uk/training-and-consultancy
Based in Oxford, they provide training for other organisations on mental health and effective ways to work with refugees and migrants, to ensure they are treated with understanding and compassion when trying to establish themselves in the UK.
4. FORMING SAFE SPACE IN CHURCHES AND COMMUNITIES
Acorn Listening Pathways.
https://acornchristian.org/
An outstanding course for equipping the church in how to listen well and offer listening services to members, those in their communities and in various settings (local GP surgeries, hospital settings, schools, etc.). Highly recommended and offered online, Acorn Christian Healing Foundation delivers Healing and Wholeness to individuals and communities. It is committed to being a transformative agent in today’s multi-faceted society.
One of their offerings is training in listening well, Acorn Listening Pathways. https://acornchristian.org/event information#d1d0c412-9834-430b-bc0b-5d3aaa850384 We tire quickly, and long for space to breathe, talk, be heard. Acorn’s Listening Pathway responds to this longing in that listening is a vital part of the healing process.
Renew Wellbeing.
https://www.renewwellbeing.org.uk/
Renew Wellbeing helps churches open spaces of welcome and inclusion in partnership with local mental health services and other community resources to improve mental and emotional wellbeing. Renew spaces are simple cafe-style spaces run by local churches where hobbies and activities are shared or co-produced. Each cafe space is attached to a quiet room or prayer space where inner habits of wellbeing are shared. Free online training is available for churches looking at setting up an online Renew Community.
Kintsugi Hope.
https://www.kintsugihope.com/
The Church is in every community across this country. It will outlast government schemes and is committed to people’s wellbeing – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Kintsugi Hope Groups work in communities through the local church with an attitude of humility – not to judge, fix or rescue, but to come alongside and love one another. We are all broken in some ways and we can all learn from each other. Kintsugi Hope groups enable churches to reach their congregations and communities with 12-session programmes to support people’s mental and emotional wellbeing.
Journey UK.
https://www.journey-uk.org/
Found here and in the category below, Journey UK is a pastoral discipleship ministry helping Christians grow in a lifelong, experiential relationship with God as they learn to express His image as sons and daughters, enjoying security in their relationships. Through courses, events and resources, Journey offers a safe place where men and women can find hope for their lives and deeper connection with God and others.
5. SPIRITUAL FORMATION AND DISCIPLESHIP IN EMOTIONAL MATURITY
Although good discipleship is desired, there have been few tools that provide a pathway for it. The following are solid helps, based on sound theology, social/emotional development, and how we learned to relate to others in our earliest and succeeding systems that God wants corrected so we can “possess our souls in patience” and develop the character of Christ in communities of faith.
Faithwalking.
https://www.faithwalking.us/
Developed by a Licensed Professional Counsellor and a Ph.D. researcher/human systems expert, Faithwalking is a spiritual formation process where people are increasingly following the way of Jesus, experiencing ongoing transformation, and developing effective practices for restoring individuals, social systems, communities, and nations to God’s intended design. Faithwalking utilises sound Biblical, theological, and relational work, practical daily transformation, spiritual disciplines, and coaching/mentoring woven together with family systems work pioneered by Edwin Friedman and Murray Bowen (Bowen Family Systems, https://www.thebowencenter.org/).
There are several low and no cost resources in FW Ongoing Transformation and Education offerings, in addition to the Faithwalking Foundations Course Modules. Blog and podcast resources are available. There are two online communities available at no fee:
Christian meditation and spiritual practices that nurture the soul in community https://www.faithwalking.us/meditation/
Keep Calm and Faithwalk On – a community of conversation, learning, and mutual support in these anxious times https://www.faithwalking.us/keepcalm/
FAMILY SYSTEMS READING, FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN FOUNDATIONS OF IT.
Edwin Friedman. Rabbi and Family Therapist. Friedman was a charter member of the American Family Therapy Academy, a fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and a diplomate of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.
A Failure of Nerve. Book by Friedman outlining self-differentiation and systems thinking. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Failure-Nerve-Leadership-Age-Quick/dp/159627042X.
Excellent Short Paper from Peterborough Diocese regarding Friedman’s work. https://www.peterborough-diocese.org.uk/downloads/adult-education-and-training/familysystems.pdf
Murray Bowen.
https://www.thebowencenter.org/
Scholar, researcher, clinician, writer, and visiting professor in medical schools. Bowen trained at the Menninger Foundation in Topeka, KS, and became a psychiatrist at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Bethesda, MD. His work on Family Systems is key in leadership development and healthy systems of families, churches, and teams.
Journey UK.
https://www.journey-uk.org/
Journey UK is a pastoral discipleship ministry helping Christians grow in a lifelong, experiential relationship with God as they learn to express His image as sons and daughters, enjoying security in their relationships. Through courses, events and resources, Journey offers a safe place where men and women can find hope for their lives and deeper connection with God and others.
Book: The Other Half of the Church: Overcoming Spiritual Stagnation. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Other-Half-Church-Overcoming-Stagnation-ebook/dp/B085FRH7LP.
This book helps make the case for using brain science regarding both hemispheres of the brain in forming relationally and emotionally healthy communities of faith. Using brain science, Wilder identified that there are two halves of the church: the rational half and the relational half. When Christians only embrace the rational half, churches become unhealthy places where transformation doesn't last. God wants us to be in healthy communities, not just places of intellectual assent and doctrinal “rightness”.
6. TRAUMA TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS.
6.1 GENERAL TRAUMA
The Allender Center, Seattle School of Theology.
https://theallendercenter.org/
One of the best resources globally in trauma knowledge combined with theology, human psychology, and the truth of God’s good heart towards us. Many of their resource workshops are now available through online learning, in addition to their books and workbooks. Resourcing the church, individuals, students/academics in engaging trauma, along with personal story, with the latest learning/research regarding the effects of trauma. There are online courses, onsite courses, and podcasts available to facilitate understanding of trauma and its effects. Many other trauma therapists and podcasters refer back to the work of Dan Allender and colleagues.
All Nations Christian College Arts and Trauma Healing Course.
https://www.allnations.ac.uk/courses/short-courses/arts-and-trauma-healing
In partnership with Dallas International University (DIU), ANCC offers a holistic interactive approach, engaging Scripture within the healing process for people who suffer from the mental, emotional, and spiritual effects of trauma. It combines biblical truths with basic mental health principles expressed in ways that can be easily translated into other languages. This course will emphasize the importance of performing and visual arts in trauma healing.
6.2 TRAUMA AND SEXUAL ABUSE
The Allender Center, Seattle School of Theology.
https://theallendercenter.org/
Resourcing the church, individuals, students/academics in engaging trauma, along with personal story, with the latest learning/research regarding the effects of trauma. There are online courses, onsite courses, and podcasts available to facilitate understanding of trauma and its effects.
Healing the Wounded Heart - book
https://theallendercenter.org/store/products/healing-wounded-heart/
This second writing of Healing the Wounded Heart considers recent discoveries about the lasting physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual ramifications of sexual abuse. With great compassion, Healing the Wounded Heart offers hope for victims of rape, date rape, incest, molestation, sexting, sexual bullying, unwanted advances, pornography, and more, exposing the raw wounds that are left behind and clearing the path toward wholeness and healing. This for victims and those who walk alongside them.
Healing the Wounded Heart - workbook
https://theallendercenter.org/store/products/healing-wounded-heart-workbook/
Designed for use in small groups, this companion workbook is designed to help personalise the material from Healing the Wounded Heart. The exercises laid out in this workbook are meant to prompt, stir, focus, and invigorate transformation to move forward. This workbook contains two sections: the first is for those who have been sexually abused and are choosing to take this life-transforming journey. The second section is a companion guide for spouses of abuse survivors who intend to do all they can to make this journey successful for their abused spouse and their marriage.
Healing the Wounded Heart - course
https://theallendercenter.org/offerings/online-courses/healing-the-wounded-heart/
Featuring 9 sessions with teaching from Dr. Dan Allender, powerful interviews with survivors, and a downloadable journal for deeper reflection, Healing the Wounded Heart is an online course designed to support your journey and/or those with whom you journey toward restoration.
The Biblical Counseling Coalition: https://www.biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/2019/02/15/sexual-abuse-prevention-and-sexual-abuse-healing-and-hope-in-christ/
One in Four.
https://www.oneinfour.org.uk/
Supporting people who have experienced child sexual abuse and trauma. Various resources for survivors and professionals are available, including narratives and poetry from survivors.
6.3 STORY WORK
To Be Told, The Allender Center, Seattle School of Theology.
Our stories, in all their beauty and heartache, shape and influence every dimension of our daily life and relationships. Knowing the impact of our story and finding God’s redemptive work within it, is vital for emotional, relational, and spiritual formation and health. Far too often, when the true impact of our stories of wounding and heartache go unaddressed, we find ourselves bound to unhealthy and unfulfilling patterns without hope for change. To Be Told is far more than the popularized movement to “know your story.” It is an invitation to truth-telling, healing lament, deep soulfulness, and lasting change. To Be Told is at the core of The Allender Center’s foundational story work and theory.
Online Course: https://theallendercenter.org/offerings/online-courses/to-be-told online-course/
Book and Workbook: https://theallendercenter.org/store/products/to-be-told/; https://theallendercenter.org/store/products/to-be-told-workbook/
6.4 TRAUMA AND DISSOCIATIVE RESPONSES (DISSOCIATION AND DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDERS – DID)
Carolyn Spring – Reversing Adversity.
www.carolynspring.com
Information and training about trauma and hope for healing. A wide offering of live and online trainings, a podcast, blog, and a Facebook page.
• Positive Outcomes for Dissociative Survivors (PODS) Supporting Dissociative Survivors; https://www.pods-online.org.uk. This can also be found through the main website, www.carolynspring.com
• Podcast: https://www.carolynspring.com/media/ also found on iTunes under “Conversations with Carolyn Spring” https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/conversations-with-carolynspring/id1434539820
• Facebook page: Carolyn Spring - PODS
Carolyn Bramhall – Heart for Truth.
www.heartfortruth.org/.
The vision is that every church would be actively engaged in embracing every single hurting person. Carolyn offers live Taster Days and a series of workshops to educate and train churches. She is personally invested in helping local churches in setting up “Truth Teams”, with Jesus at the centre and each hurting person as a valuable part of their personal Truth Team.
7. ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACEs)
Introduction to Adverse Childhood Experiences Early Trauma Online Learning.
https://www.acesonlinelearning.com/
A free online introductory course for practitioners, professionals and volunteers who work with children, young people, and their families.
8. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT & ADVICE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Press Red
https://pressred.org
Addressing the issues of gender-based abuse and violence in the UK and abroad.
Pressing Red.
https://learn.redcliffe.ac.uk/courses/pressing-red/
An online course created for churches and church leaders in partnership with the former Redcliffe College, referencing material in Elaine Storkey’s book, Scars Across Humanity.
Restored Relationships.
www.restoredrelationships.org
An international Christian alliance working to transform relationships and end violence against women. Offering equipping and resource for individuals and churches. Included in their offerings:
First Man Standing Campaign. https://www.restoredrelationships.org/what-we do/working-with-men/
Violence against women is not a women’s issue; it’s a human issue. If violence against women is to end, we need men to help challenge the attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate it – in themselves, and in other men. A movement for men to eradicate violence against women.
Jesus Said Love. https://jesussaidlove.com/
Founded in 2004 by worship leaders Brett & Emily Mills, this charity/ministry exists to awaken hope and empower change in the lives of those impacted by the commercial sex industry—including human trafficking. Their resources and materials will help equip others coming alongside victims of human trafficking and work with those in the supply-side of the sex industry/perpetrators through Stop the Demand Schools https://jesussaidlove.com/sds
Man in the Mirror. https://jesussaidlove.com/mitm. Man In the Mirror Collective was formed by Brett Mills, co-founder of Jesus Said Love. It’s an initiative where men are making a difference in the current culture of domestic and gender-based violence by changing the culture and educating themselves and their sons around sexism, sexual assault, and misogyny. It’s about standing WITH women.
9. ADDRESSING PORNOGRAPHY
Click to Kick.
https://www.nakedtruthrecovery.com/home
This is an online support group for men & women wanting to overcome porn use & dependency. It is an 8-week course using professional, tried & tested models which has been developed by one of the UK’s leading experts in porn addiction. Click to Kick will give you the tools & support you need to find freedom from porn.
Covenant Eyes.
https://www.covenanteyes.com/
What people do online affects their lives offline. Bridging the gap between technology and relationships, CE is an internet accountability site to equip people to protect themselves and their families from online dangers and encourage accountability and trust in the fight against Internet temptation. Located in Owosso, Michigan, Covenant Eyes is the pioneer of Internet and Screen Accountability™ software, empowering members to maintain their online integrity. Over 100,000,000 Covenant Eyes accountability reports have generated 18 years of conversation-based accountability. Covenant Eyes is the most significant corporate force in cultural recognition of the public health crisis of pornography and sex trafficking.
xxxchurch.
https://www.xxxchurch.com/
Porn addiction is one of the most difficult addictions to overcome, but XXXchurch is your resource online for pornography addiction help. Helping individuals struggling with online porn get free by connecting them to have open and honest relationships through our resources and accountability app so they can live in peace and say goodbye to porn forever.
10. PODCASTS
All can be found through any podcast server (iTunes, Stitcher, Podcast Addict, etc.).
Listening to podcasts can reinforce previous training and support understanding of trauma and abuse. They are not a substitute for training but rather an enhancement to training and understanding.
• The Allender Center. Dr. Dan Allender and colleagues.
https://theallendercenter.org/category/podcast/ https://podcasts.apple.com/gy/podcast/the-allender-center podcast/id936250143?mt=2
The mission of The Allender Center is to help people tell their stories of trauma and abuse with awareness and integrity, and to train them to listen to the stories of others with care, artistry, and skill so that they may foster redemption and healing in their lives by entering stories in ways that facilitate transformation and hope. This podcast features Dr. Dan Allender and his team engaging topics on healing and restoration through the unique intersection of theology and psychology.
• The Place We Find Ourselves. Adam Young, LCSW, MDiv.
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/adam-young/the-place-we-find-ourselves; https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-place-we-find-ourselves/id1373926216 This podcast features private practice therapist Adam Young (LCSW, MDiv) and guests as they discuss all things related to story, trauma, attachment, and interpersonal neurobiology. Adam and his guests unpack how trauma and abuse impact the heart and mind, as well as how to navigate the path toward healing, wholeness, and restoration. Interview episodes give you a sacred glimpse into the real-life stories of guests who have engaged their own experiences of trauma and abuse. Adam’s work is informed by Dr. Dan Allender and The Allender Center.
• Jesus Said Love.
https://jesussaidlove.com/ https://jesussaidlove.com/podcast
Founded in 2004 by worship leaders Brett & Emily Mills, they exist to awaken hope and empower change in the lives of those impacted by the commercial sex industry and those caught in human trafficking. These podcasts address trauma and abuse and their affects at every level, as well as the impact of neglect, trafficking, poor parenting, and pornography/addiction on not only individual victims and communities, but also on the perpetrators. Can be raw, but it’s honest and highly informative.
• Faithwalking.
https://www.faithwalking.us/podcast/. Available through podcast servers. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/faithwalking.us
• The Leaders Journey.
Led by Jim Herrington and Trisha Taylor, founders of Faithwalking, regarding the non-anxious leadership skills and spiritual formation tools needed as we bring wholeness to ourselves and communities.
• Sanctuary Mental Health
https://www.sanctuarymentalhealth.org/podcast/ and https://www.sanctuarymentalhealth.org/blog/
• Reversing Adversity - Caroline Spring.
As a survivor of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DiD), Caroline has devoted her life to helping others reverse the effects of trauma. Enhancing and reinforcing the information she teaches and shares, this podcast will help the listener more fully understand trauma, the accompanying effects, and a path of healing. She offers a biblical and therapeutic view of hope and healing. Also found on iTunes under “Conversations with Carolyn Spring”
• Mind and Soul Foundation.
www.mindandsoulfoundation.org.
Podcast found on your favourite podcast provider.
iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/mind and-soul-podcast/id375680041
11. CREATIVITY AND WELLBEING
There seems to be an explosion of communities of creativity that are also focused on wellbeing and connection, providing places of healthy processing. They don’t emphasise being “artists” so much as making space for everyone’s creativity, often tapping into the fun of being a “maker” that we all knew as children, allowing space to freely talk and process. There are podcasts, Facebook groups, Twitter groups, online interfaith groups, groups for all faiths and none. A few are included below to help jump-start the search (and fun), following the rabbit trail into other good resources.
Books – Getting Started
Healing Through Creativity, Fiona Horrobin.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Healing-through-Creativity-Fiona-Horrobin/dp/1852408375
Drawing to God, Jeri Gerding.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Drawing-God-Art-Prayer/dp/189373224X
Praying in Colour, Sybil MacBeth.
https://prayingincolor.com/
Social Media Groups
Creative(ish) Not A Bible Study Community.
Twitter: https://twitter.come/bible_na?s=21
It’s a new (ish) group with a Facebook presence as a private (but not closed/secret) group.
Community Groups
Varying by city and community; growing since the pandemic. Local artists are also involved in offering projects that can be used by faith and community groups.
Interfaith Groups
These are usually found in local communities, having developed around creativity and sharing life together. Although they’ve been frequented by women through the years men are now exploring them and talking about establishing their own.
Tools for conversational groups (often used in conjunction with creativity).
Table Talk. Games for Starting Conversations.
A game of conversations and important questions of life. There are 21 different conversational packs, available across ages. http://www.table-talk.org/ and https://uglyducklingresources.org/collections/table-talk
12. BOOKS ABOUT TRAUMA
The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma, Dr. van der Kolk (2015).
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748
In six years, this has become a masterpiece in explaining how trauma is buried in the body, mind, and brain. Dr. van der Kolk, one of the world's experts on traumatic stress, offers a bold new paradigm for treatment, moving away from standard talking and drug therapies and towards an alternative approach that heals mind, brain and body. Filled with solid research and the stories of patients, this book has become a reference for victims in healing, psychotherapists, massage and body-work therapists, and everyday people.
Surviving Trauma, Crisis, and Grief, Dr. Michelle J. Simpson (2020).
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Surviving-Trauma-Crisis-Grief-Practical/dp/1985055775
In an encouraging, personable and easy-to-read style, Michelle avoids professional jargon and writes in a way that makes the book easier for trauma sufferers to take in. Surviving trauma is a day-by-day journey, and often an hour-by-hour one, where every positive experience adds up to help the survivor along a journey where hope, joy, beauty, creativity, confidence and self-worth can be gradually restored and move them forward to a better place.
13. PRAYER AND HEALING RETREAT CENTRES
Harnhill Centre of Christian Healing
www.harnhillcentre.org.uk
A gentle and well-administered centre for inner healing and prayer.
This page contains links and descriptions of websites which people in the Network have found helpful and which relate to loving all Muslims. This is by no means exhaustive. The inclusion of a link to an external website does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.