Ask the Therapist

WITH RABBI DANIEL SCHONBUCH, LMFT

SPIRITUALITY CAN HEAL TRAUMA FROM THE COVID VIRUS

Dealing with the long-lasting psychological impact of trauma from the ongoing COVID crisis is one of the most important issues facing the world. Illness, lack of safety, job loss, and uncertainty of what the future will bring, is increasing rates of depression, anxiety, and somatic pain. Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch, LMFT, who treats trauma, is a therapist and director of the TorahPsychology.org School of Coaching & Counseling. He believes that Chasidus has the power to heal trauma, especially when we can learn how to coach others based on spiritual principles and practices.

HOW CAN PEOPLE UTILIZE SPIRITUALITY TO HEAL TRAUMA?

It says in Mishle, ”Daiga b’Lev ha-Ish yesichena,” which translates as ”If there is concern in a man's heart, let him cast it down.” Chassidus teaches that yesichena also means to ”spill,” or to ”empty out” one’s worries to another. This refers to one of the most basic principles of treating trauma: the need to share one’s feelings with others. I teach people how to coach individuals they know (which includes family and friends) by listening to their feelings with unconditional acceptance. Listening has the power to elevate people out of states of helplessness and sadness, and into the mindset of positive thinking, emunah and bitachon. These ideas are actually supported by the latest research in treating trauma. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, spiritual care forms a vital component of holistic health management, especially in terms of coping, coming to terms with illness, suffering and ultimately, death. They claim that the relationship with the ”transcendent or sacred” has a strong influence on a people’s beliefs, attitudes, emotions

and behavior. Populations, communities, families and individuals have always found solace through their religious or philosophical beliefs during times of personal adversity and widespread anxiety or disaster. Although spiritual care has always been a part of the domain of religious beliefs, a more contemporary perspective in learning how to coach others to utilize these principles can form part of human care, health and well-being for families, patients and healthcare workers. Spiritual care and coaching deal with the provision of compassion and empathy during periods of heightened stress, distress and anxiety within care.

WHY DO PEOPLE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO TREAT TRAUMA DURING COVID?

I believe that this last year was one of the most traumatic years in modern history. Since the Second World War and the Holocaust, we have never seen an international crisis on this level affecting so many areas of life like COVID. Everyone, including teens and children, are in a state of trauma, and need help. HOW ARE PEOPLE BECOMING TRAUMATIZED?

Those who caught the disease, or lost family members or friends, are still in a constant state of fear. Besides the obvious levels of sickness and death, the feelings of isolation that many people are experiencing are immense. COVID is turning into a complex and prolonged trauma around the world.

For children and teenagers especially, the fear of the unknown coupled with social separation from their peers during school closings are creating a pervasive sense of loneliness and anxiety. People are spending more time on the Internet which is causing a breakdown of basic human connectedness which traditionally protected them from depression and posttraumatic stress. WHAT ARE THE LONGTERM EFFECTS OF TRAUMA?

The effects include posttraumatic stress, depression and anxiety, somatic pain (i.e. back pain, stomach aches, and feelings of fatigue). Trauma also causes dissociation, in which people walk around feeling ”spaced out” and not grounded in their bodies. Many of my clients even report being scared of walking outside and leaving their homes.

WHAT METHODS DO YOU TEACH TO TREAT TRAUMA?

Drawing from the latest neuroscientific research and methods on treating trauma including Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, the Sarno method, EFT tapping, Viktor Frankl's Logotherapy, Emunah and Jewish spirituality, there are many simple techniques which everyone can use to alleviate emotional distress.

Jewish music, neginum, prayer and dance can also help heal trauma when used properly. We just need to learn how to structure spirituality in the form of coaching and counseling, which is what our programs at TorahPsychology.org offer to the community.

WHY FOCUS ON THE SPIRITUAL CONNECTION OF THE MIND AND BODY?

Over the last two decades, our understanding of trauma has increased dramatically. Using FMRI technology, we can actually see what happens to people when they suffer from trauma.

According to the leaders in the field of neuroscience such as Dr. Van der Kohl (”The Body Keeps the Score”) and Dr. Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing), lower parts of the brain such as the limbic system and the brain stem hold onto trauma through the fight, flight and freeze mechanisms. When someone is in the freeze mode (collapse) you can't simply talk them out of it. A person's nervous system is unconscious to them, and they need help to unfreeze. This can be accomplished by listening to the body's signals, and gently moving out of collapse. The mind/body connection can be restored by using some simple exercises that people have known about for thousands of years.

Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch, LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) is renowned for treating trauma and improving the emotional lives of individuals, couples and families. He is the author of 4 books. Torahpsychology.org is now offering a life coach program to help others overcome trauma. For more information visit torahpsychology.org or call 646-428-472.