Classic Program: Starter Facilitator Handbook for Healing Groups

their ministry. This provides a supportive environment for trauma healing programs. Also called an Awareness Session. • Equipping Session: The goal is to equip facilitators. This is done through an initial equipping session where trainees learn basic biblical and men- tal health principles related to trauma care, explore their own trauma and bring it to Christ for healing, and learn to help others heal from trauma. They put what they learn into practice in two healing groups, and then do an advanced equipping session to complete their basic training. • Healing Group: The goal is to help people with heart wounds to find heal- ing, engage with Scripture, and become more resilient. If some healing group participants decide they would like to go on and become facilitators, they can do the additional program lessons at an equipping session. In due course, they should learn to facilitate all of the lessons. • Trauma Healing Mini: The goal is to respond to specific needs that arise. This may be one lesson, an exercise, or a part of a lesson—anything less than doing the core lessons. It meets an immediate need and may stimu- late interest in a healing group. • Community of Practice: The goal is to bring together facilitators, mental health professionals, administrators, and advocates from organizations and churches that work with trauma survivors for networking, collabora- tion, professional development, encouragement, and prayer. This builds momentum for trauma healing in a country or area. PROGRAM MATERIALS Trauma healing materials are available for different audiences and purposes: • Healing the Wounds of Trauma: How the Church Can Help (American Bible Society, 2013; expanded edition, 2016). The classic program’s core book for adults. The Classic Program Facilitator Handbook provides additional help for leading sessions. (The first half of the full handbook is published separately as the Starter Handbook .) • Scripture Companion Booklet: For those who are in a healing group but do not have a Bible, or for new readers who find a booklet easier to read than a Bible. This booklet contains the main ideas of each lesson and Scripture passages written out in full. Healing group participants can review what they have learned and meditate on the Scripture passages. • Healing Hearts Club Story and Activity Book and Healing Children’s Wounds of Trauma: Facilitator Book. Trauma healing for children 8–13. The same ideas

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Classic Program Facilitator Handbook