Is Trauma-Informed Counseling Biblical or Dangerous?

Jan 7, 2026

Is trauma-informed counseling biblical or dangerous? The discussion delves into trauma's definition and its physiological impacts. Key distinctions are made between pastoral counseling and therapy techniques like EMDR and somatic experiencing. Using the Book of Job, the conversation critiques harmful theological responses to trauma. It addresses the sufficiency of Scripture, emphasizing that therapy can serve as common grace, aiding believers while underscoring that only God forgives sin. The session ultimately advocates for trauma-informed approaches in pastoral care.

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INSIGHT

Trauma Is Both Event And Physiology

Trauma involves both external events and internal physiological responses like amygdala activation and cortisol surge.
Michael Roundtree distinguishes trauma as physical-brain responses separate from spiritual sin and moral responsibility.

INSIGHT

Two Sides Of Trauma-Informed Care

Trauma-informed care is an umbrella including pastoral counsel and secular therapy approaches like EMDR and somatic work.
Roundtree separates trauma-informed counsel (relational/pastoral) from trauma-informed therapy (clinical techniques).

ADVICE

Learn Pastoral Response From Job

Use the book of Job as a model for how to respond to traumatized people and avoid making suffering worse.
Don't be like Job's friends; your response can intensify or diminish another's suffering.

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Is trauma-informed counseling biblical—or is it undermining the sufficiency of Scripture?

In this episode of Remnant Radio, we take a careful, biblical look at trauma-informed care, responding to recent critiques from pastors, biblical counselors, and theologians who argue that trauma-informed counseling is harming the church. Some claim that if Christians would simply repent, trust Jesus, and obey Scripture, trauma-informed approaches would be unnecessary—or even dangerous.

So how should Christians think about trauma, trauma-informed counseling, and trauma-informed therapy?

In Part One of this two-part discussion, we begin by defining trauma and trauma-informed care, ensuring we are speaking clearly and accurately. We then distinguish between trauma-informed pastoral counseling and trauma-informed therapy, including approaches such as EMDR, somatic experiencing, internal family systems, and polyvagal-informed therapy.

We examine whether trauma-informed counseling is supported by Scripture by turning to the Book of Job, one of the Bible’s most extensive treatments of suffering, trauma, and pastoral response. Job’s condemnation of his friends as “miserable comforters” provides a sobering warning against theologically misinformed counsel that intensifies suffering rather than alleviating it.

This episode also addresses key theological concerns, including:
-The sufficiency of Scripture for salvation and sanctification
-The doctrine of common grace and its relationship to medicine, psychology, and therapy
-Whether trauma-informed care excuses sin or undermines repentance
-How physiological trauma responses differ from sinful anxiety
-Whether modern psychology should ever be subordinate to biblical authority

Part Two will move into practical application, offering a biblical framework for trauma-informed care that upholds Scripture, guards against theological compromise, and equips pastors, counselors, and Christians to care well for those who have suffered trauma. To be released next week!

0:00 – Introduction
0:10 – Public Critiques of Trauma-Informed Care
1:53 – Defining Trauma
3:16 – Defining Trauma-Informed Care
4:29 – Is Trauma-Informed Counsel Biblical?
7:39 – Three Ways Trauma-Informed Care Goes Wrong
10:26 – Is Trauma-Informed Therapy Biblical?
12:01 – The Sufficiency of Scripture
15:20 – God Gives Common Grace
19:41 – Common Grace and Obedience
21:48 – Conclusion

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