Rebecca Collins

I had never even heard of the term “Spiritual Trauma” until early 2023, but when I did, I finally had a term that I could use to encapsulate what I feel I have been through and experienced over the last 10 years.

This is a really hard topic for me to write on as the complexities and nuisances of religion and faith are deep and wide, but I feel compelled to write this because just like any other type of trauma, it is valid, it is real and it affects many people.

For the first 25 years of my life, I lived and breathed my faith. Faith, not religion. I have never considered myself religious. I was extremely involved in an independent evangelical church in Aberdeen. My beliefs and values were forged there and I believed them to be 100% the iron clad truth.

When I was in it and adhered to the teachings, it was a wonderful thing to be a part of. I have had some of the best experiences of my life in and through that church and met incredible people who I loved and respected.

But… what happens when you start to question those beliefs and teachings? What happens when who you are as a person is classified as a sin? What happens when the beliefs you cherish and that form the foundation of your life begin to eat away at your self-worth, begin to make you question everything you held as truth, begin to destroy and torment you? What happens when a three letter word, turns your world upside down and inside out? What happens when you are terrified, yet brave enough to acknowledge the truth (that you have known for a long time) that you are “gay?”

The tsunami that engulfed me after this moment in my life was overwhelming. One three letter word changed everything. My safe place, the place where love and acceptance is preached, became the place I feared the most. The people I loved became the ones who could no longer stand to look at me, could no longer understand who I was.

I had to walk away from a place that I had poured myself into. I had to walk away from a life that I loved and was loved in. This is perhaps the hardest walk I have ever had to make and it caused me a great deal of distress and pain (more about this in my post from the 6^th of June).

I am sure I will write on this more in the future, but for now, all I want to say is that what I experienced was a form of trauma. Spiritual trauma is just that, a form of trauma. Now, I can’t change what I have been through, but I can change the way I let it affect me and have a hold over me.

I share this because many others have experienced this form of trauma, but it is hardly ever talked about, or acknowledged. Well, I wish to acknowledge it. I want to give it a voice and a name. It is an area of trauma that I feel very deeply about, and I want to use the skills I have as a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist to help others who have also experienced this type of trauma.

Spiritual Trauma is real. You are not alone.

Looking after yourself is perhaps the least selfish this you can do.

Sounds odd to hear but by taking care of yourself first, by meeting your own needs, you are able to be more available for others when you wish to be. This is because when you take care of yourself you feel good, and when you feel good then you have the resources left to care for others.

Self-care takes many different forms. Maybe it’s a walk in the park, having a bath, reading a book, phoning your best friend, getting out in the garden, having kinder thoughts about yourself, sitting still, or having a hypnotherapy session.  Whatever it may be I encourage you to practise some of it soon. You need it.

Self-care it’s the least selfish thing you can do.

How we think matters.
How we speak to ourselves matters.

That inner voice that we have can either be kind, our best friend or it can be our worst enemy, a bully.

How you think about yourself influences how you view the world and how you view the world affects your everyday living.

Our brains can’t tell the difference between imagination and reality so each time we bully ourselves with unkind words and negative thinking, our brain registers it as real. We then begin to listen to that voice and start to believe the bully, the lies.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy teaches you to be aware of those negative thoughts and how to change and challenge those negative patterns of thinking. We empower you to understand why your brain works the way it does, which means you can change the way you talk to yourself, change that inner voice to become your best friend, your greatest champion giving you the chance to be the best version of yourself.

How you speak to yourself matters.
How you think matters.

Do you ever feel like you are just surviving life? Every moment is a struggle, an effort and leaves you feeling exhausted.

I want to let you know that you are not alone. I once felt like this, life was hard and I did not want to live the life I had. I had just come out as gay and I was watching the life I knew being torn apart. My faith, my relationships with family and friends and my general living became survival. Getting out of bed was my Mt. Everest and my world became very small. I became suicidal.

I used to listen to a song by a band called Swithfoot called “Thrive”.

The Chorus:

No, I’m not alright
I know that I’m not right
A steering wheel doesn’t mean you can drive
A warm body doesn’t mean I’m alive

No, I’m not alright
I know that I’m not right
Feel like I travel but I never arrive
I wanna thrive not just survive

This song captured how I felt and was part of the reason that led me to seek help. I could not live this thing called life in survival mode any longer. I wanted to remember what it was like to thrive and enjoy life once more.

I was already on anti-depressants and had been to counseling.  My mum suggested hypnotherapy. At first, I resisted as the thought of going to see a stranger was overwhelming, let alone having to speak to one.

However, I went, not expecting anything. But being taught why my brain was doing what it was doing was empowering and for the first time in a long time, I felt there was a glimmer of hope.

Fast forward 5 years.

This month, I graduated as a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist (SFH). SFH has given me the steps to reconnect with myself, feel more in control, feel more motivated, feel brave and ultimately, feeling happy.

Now, I have the privilege of being able to help others the way that I was once helped. I have truly gone from survive to thrive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbQz-dbJf-E

Our brains can be powerful, beautiful machines and yet at times they become out of control. That power turns to danger and that beauty can turn into something ugly.

Our brains, just like a car need an MOT.  They need taken care of and serviced. That way they run and perform better, allowing you to get the very best out of yourself.  They also require fuel to function on a daily basis, and so do you.

Your brain needs mental maintenance.

In SFH we look at why they brain works they way it does and we teach you how to harness that power and beauty so that it you feel more in control, motivated, brave and ultimately happy.

Book in for some mental maintenance today with stronger-mind hypnotherapy.

All session are available at half price = £35 per session.

Make the most of this offer and  spread the word – do you know anyone who would benefit from Solution Focused Hypnotherapy? (SFH) Help with anxiety, low mood, anger, motivation, pain management, fears/phobias, goal setting and confidence. Get in touch today.

Ever find yourself asking – what is Trance?

Here is a small clip that helps explain what is happening when we go into trance and why listening to a positive message as you go to sleep is so important. This process is often referred to as self-hypnosis.

It’s that time from free to fee…. exciting for me, but maybe not so exciting for my clients (sorry!). I have reached the level in my training that means I am allowed to charge half my normal session fees. It is an important moment for me and I appreciate your support in this next step.

Please note:
• All new client session are £35 per session (bar stop smoking) as of 10th March.
• Clients who are currently receiving free session will remain free until the end of April and will then be asked to start paying half session fees as of 1st May.
• All new and current clients will pay full fees as of the 1st of June = £70.