Stories of Strength and Resilience during Trauma

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While mindfulness is a frequently used psychological intervention, especially in the treatment of anxiety disorders (including PTSD), the women in this study integrated mindfulness with religious/spiritual beliefs. For me, as a practitioner, I encourage my clients with a spiritual orientation to look for beautiful and awe-inspiring experiences, signs, and symbols framed in their core beliefs. To encourage this type of mindfulness it is important to use the client's religious/spiritual frame of reference. This builds resilience by changing the focus from the circumstance to their belief system which facilitates a more hopeful and future-oriented focus. Although the adversity still exists, it is no longer the central focus. It hangs on the periphery of their lives and does not have a strangling effect, metaphorically allowing them to “breath in” their rich and healing spiritual experiences. Many women in this study noted that their religious/spiritual focus mitigated the effects of their adversity. Similar to my clients, this mindfulness state allowed the women in this study to be more in tune with a divine presence, strengthening a personal, intimate relationship with God. Park (2010) indicated that meaning connects us with things, events, and relationships and that our orienting systems provide the cognitive framework to interpret those experiences. The women in this study found meaning in their adversity and strengthened their connection with God. This connection with God, made them more aware of religious and spiritual signs and symbols in their daily living. In the face of adversity, religious/spiritual experiences impact feelings, thoughts, and behaviors encouraging the individual to reframe their life experience and find new meaning. Mental health professionals need to consider how culturally sensitive religious and spiritual beliefs and practices can positively impact healing.

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