Walking with the Wounded: Why The Body Keeps the Score Matters for the Church

When The Body Keeps the Score was first published in 2014, it marked a significant moment in trauma research, offering an accessible yet comprehensive explanation of how trauma reshapes both the brain and the body. Nearly a decade later, its place as a cornerstone text in psychological studies is indisputable. Yet its relevance remains undiminished.

What was once seen as groundbreaking - and at times controversial - continues to resonate deeply, offering rich insights that reach far beyond the academic world and speak directly to those involved in pastoral care and ministry. While this book is not about theology, it offers profound lessons for the Church, particularly for those engaged in ministry to the suffering and vulnerable. Bessel van der Kolk’s meticulous research shows that trauma is not simply an emotional or psychological event, but a deeply physical one. It rewires the brain, alters the nervous system, and fundamentally changes how individuals perceive the world, interact with others, and experience healing. The book is invaluable not just for its scientific rigour, but for its capacity to humanise trauma, weaving together clinical data with personal stories in a way that makes the suffering real and tangible.

For the Church, The Body Keeps the Score presents a crucial opportunity to reconsider how we engage with those in pain. Too often, our efforts to help can be rushed or superficial; whether through brief interventions or well-meaning but ultimately inadequate services. Churches may offer relief in the form of food, shelter, or counselling, but without addressing the deep, long-term healing needs of those affected by trauma, these efforts may fall short. Van der Kolk challenges us to remember that true healing does not happen quickly or easily. Recovery is a long, nonlinear journey, and it requires not just immediate aid, but a long-term commitment to walk alongside people through their suffering, one day at a time.

One of the most significant contributions of the book is its call for discernment in trauma care. Van der Kolk stresses that healing must not be rushed; it requires patience and, importantly, a balance of compassion and boundaries. Knowing when to press forward and when to step back is critical in the healing process. For the Church, this insight is especially valuable. Too often, there is an impulse to “fix” people quickly - to move them through their pain, usher them into the “next season,” or offer premature solutions. Yet, as Van der Kolk teaches, healing requires space and time. It is a delicate balance for any community, but especially for churches, where the temptation can be to either gloss over trauma or avoid engaging with its depths altogether. We must cultivate wisdom - not just to offer solutions, but to stand in the gap with people, providing the patience to let them process at their own pace.

The book also highlights the essential role of community in healing. Van der Kolk emphasises that recovery is not a solitary endeavour. It requires a supportive, empathetic community - an environment where individuals can share their pain, process their trauma, and begin to rebuild trust. This concept deeply resonates with Christian theology, which teaches that healing occurs not in isolation, but within the Body of Christ. Churches, with their communal nature and relational dynamics, are uniquely positioned to offer such healing spaces. By supporting professional therapeutic care and fostering environments of empathy and acceptance, churches can create the kind of healing community that allows trauma survivors to experience the safety and understanding needed for recovery.

Perhaps most powerfully, The Body Keeps the Score presents a hopeful vision for the future. Trauma may devastate individuals and communities, but it does not have the final word. Van der Kolk’s research affirms that recovery, though difficult, is possible. It requires resilience, time, and often the willingness to revisit painful moments in order to be transformed. For the Church, this is a vital message - one that affirms the possibility of redemption and wholeness even in the most broken places. The Church’s calling is not simply to provide temporary relief, but to stand alongside people as they heal, rebuild, and ultimately find restoration.

For anyone in ministry or working with vulnerable populations, The Body Keeps the Score is a must-read. Van der Kolk’s exploration of trauma, healing, and the vital role of community offers invaluable guidance for pastors and ministry leaders who seek to better understand the complexities of human pain. By integrating his insights into our ministry practices, the Church can move beyond transient fixes and toward the deeper, holistic healing that people need. In doing so, we can provide not just brief comfort, but the kind of sustained presence that helps individuals walk through the difficult process of recovery and emerge transformed.