Post Traumatic Growth with Dr. Gerry Crete

Episode 8 with Rebecca Brubaker, founder of the Elijah Institute.

Healing After Trauma: Building Long-term Support Systems in Catholic Communities

In this episode, Dr. Gerry Crete and Elijah Institute founder Rebecca Brubaker discuss the long-term support needed after traumatic events, emphasizing the importance of spiritual and community care. Rebecca shares her firsthand experience responding to the 2025 church shooting in Minneapolis and explores how faith-based mental health initiatives can foster healing and resilience.

• The emotional journey of grief and trauma over time
• The role of the church and community in crisis response and ongoing care
• The setting up of the Elijah Institute to train clinicians in spiritually integrated psychotherapy
• Practical resources activated after the 2025 Minneapolis church shooting
• The significance of faith, moral, and spiritual dimensions in mental health treatment
• Evidence supporting the effectiveness of faith-integrated mental health care
• Developing programs for youth mental health in Catholic schools
• The importance of accessible care pathways for families in crisis

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:00 - Response to the Minneapolis church shooting

02:28 - The Elijah Institute’s mission to train clinicians in faith-based psychotherapy

04:03 - The importance of spiritual support in trauma recovery

05:01 - Practical support organizations involved in crisis intervention

06:20 - Building a care network grounded in Catholic faith

07:16 - Trauma and healing in families with adopted or special needs children

08:23 - The need for longer-term, continuous support systems

10:02 - The growing need for high-quality, spiritually integrated therapists

11:20 - Personal stories of trauma and faith's role in healing

12:31 - Challenges in finding Catholic mental health care

13:00 - The formation of Elijah Institute to fill this gap

14:22 - The potential for global impact beyond Catholic communities

15:10 - Developing effective training programs for clinicians

16:10 - Addressing mental health needs in the Catholic population

17:08 - Evidence that faith-based therapy enhances healing

18:20 - Integrating different dimensions of faith in therapy

19:12 - The universality of spiritual needs across faith backgrounds

20:32 - Research on flourishing and the role of religion in well-being

21:37 - Promoting wellness and active engagement in faith communities

23:32 - Moving beyond trauma healing toward living abundantly

24:16 - The importance of meaning, purpose, and community support

26:50 - The Elijah Institute's programs for clinicians and faith leaders

27:06 - Opportunities for training and credentialing in spiritually integrated psychotherapy

29:23 - The call for clinicians to serve Catholic families

36:44 - Reflection on biblical foundations of community care

37:04 - The vision for a more supported and loving church community

37:32 - Final encouragement for clinicians and families to seek integrated healing

38:21 - Closing thoughts: supporting families and seeking help when neededResources & Links:

Find out more about Elijah Institute’s nationally approved, continuing education courses in spiritually integrated whole person care at

elijah-institute.org.

Elijah Institute