EMDR, Dissociation, and Catholic Integration with Jennifer Madere

In this episode, Dr. Gerry Crete speaks with Jennifer Madere about how trauma treatment, Catholic anthropology, and nervous system regulation fit together in real clinical work. They focus on EMDR, dissociation, ego state therapy, and how healing can happen without bypassing the body or the complexity of suffering. Jennifer also shares insights from her book, EMDR, Dissociation and Beyond, and discusses why safety and stabilization are not preliminaries, but essential parts of healing.

Key Topics

• They discuss why the Catholic faith can deepen trauma work by helping clinicians stay grounded in suffering while still making room for meaning, purpose, and hope.
• Jennifer describes EMDR as a way of helping the brain digest experiences it could not process when they first happened.
• Gerry and Jennifer talk about the importance of avoiding spiritual bypassing while still allowing faith to support healing in a genuine, integrated way.
• Jennifer explains why ego state therapy is useful for dissociation and complex trauma, especially when working with internal parts and movements that emerged from profound injury.
• They define dissociation as a disconnection or fragmentation in human experience that can be a protective adaptation, especially in childhood or overwhelming situations.
• The conversation distinguishes between single-incident trauma and complex relational trauma, including why events like shootings can carry an existential layer beyond the immediate event.
• They explore the importance of somatic healing, with both speakers affirming that healing often requires attention to body, mind, and spirit together.

Elijah Institute

Post Traumatic Growth with Dr. Gerry Crete is presented by the Elijah Institute. Find out more about Elijah Institute’s nationally approved, continuing education courses in spiritually integrated whole person care at elijah-institute.org.

The book EMDR, Dissociation, and Beyond, Reexamining and Expanding the Frame for Impactful Trauma Treatment by Jennifer Madere and Michael Coy can be found here:

https://www.routledge.com/EMDR-Dissociation-and-Beyond-Reexamining-and-Expanding-the-Frame-for-Impactful-Trauma-Treatment/Madere-Coy/p/book/9781032712352

This podcast provides education, not treatment. It does not replace therapy, diagnosis or professional care. If you are in crisis:

• Call 988,suicide and crisis lifeline
• For an immediate emergency call 911
• Go to the emergency room
• Contact your provider
• Text HOME to 741741

Post Traumatic Growth with Dr. Gerry Crete.

Ep, 9 with Dr. Dorothy Goulart

Integrating Faith and Mental Health in Parish Care

This episode focuses on the practical gap between a parish noticing someone is struggling and actually knowing where to send them for help. Dr. Gerry Crete talks with Dr. Dorothy Goulart about the Elijah Institute’s certification program, the role of Catholic faith in clinical work, and the new Accompanied Network being piloted to connect parishes with mental health and support resources.We discuss why trust, competence, and ethical integration matter when faith and therapy meet, and how a parish can become a real point of coordination instead of just a place where people are prayed for and left without next steps.

Key topics

• Dr. Dorothy Goulart’s background as a licensed independent clinical social worker who also teaches graduate social work students
• The Elijah Institute certification program and how it helps clinicians integrate Catholic faith and mental health practice ethically
• The Accompanied Network as a parish-based referral and care coordination model
• Why trust and vetting matter when parishes refer people to therapists, psychiatrists, and other support services
• The challenge of finding specific providers, especially Catholic clinicians with particular demographic or specialty needs
• Moral injury and moral questions in trauma work, especially in military and combat settings
• Why spiritual competence can improve care even for non-Catholic clinicians working with Catholic clients
• The importance of meeting clients where they are and letting their faith tradition inform the clinical conversation

parish care, mental health, faith integration, Catholic counseling, referral network, moral injury

spiritual assessment, clinical competence, trust, pastoral care

Elijah Institute

Post Traumatic Growth with Dr. Gerry Crete is presented by the Elijah Institute. Find out more about Elijah Institute’s nationally approved, continuing education courses in spiritually integrated whole person care at elijah-institute.org.

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