Dr. Sean St. Jean Interview with Rob Skinner on his new book, "Spiritual Trauma."

Join me as I talk to Dr. Sean St. Jean, author of his new book, "Spiritual Trauma."  I recently met Sean and read his book and we talk about his background, his book and why he wrote it.

More about Dr. Sean St. Jean:

Dr. Sean St. Jean is a full-time professor at King University in Tennessee, teaching therapy at a graduate level. He is also a therapist in private practice, and has worked with hundreds of disciples and ministry staff around the world who are struggling spiritual trauma, workplace stress, and ministry burnout. His new book, Spiritual Trauma: A Guide to Healing Your Heart From Church Hurts was just released this fall and can be found at seanstjean.com. Sean, his wife Erin, and their 3 children currently live in British Columbia, Canada, and are active members of the Vancouver Church of Christ.

Dr. Sean St. Jean can be reached at [email protected]


Questions for Sean:
1. How'd you become a Christian?
2. How'd you meet your wife?
3. You had a massive biking accident 20 years ago. How did that affect what you are doing now?
4. Why'd you choose counseling?
5. Why'd you write "Spiritual Trauma?"
6. You talk about different levels of trauma or the ABC's, Atrocious abuse, Biblical Lording and Conformity culture. What's the difference and Why'd you break it down that way?
7. When advising people considering leaving a certain church, you counsel "choose your dysfunction" What do you mean by that?
8. On page 57 you said, "I developed the C category of conformity culture to gently undermine your use of the abuser label." Why'd you do that?
9. You talk about how we create our own world of good or bad in our head and use the example of a woman named Sarah. Can you explain?
10. On page 78 you write, "Whenever there is a powerful emotion that has control of your mind and heart, there is always a thought or belief living under it. You claim that insight is worth the price of the book. Why is it so important?
11. You have some tools you use to help with trauma, the reality sorting grid and the truth gauntlet. How do they help?
12. I loved your discussion of worthlessness, worth and worthy. Can you break down the differences?
13. What's your method for recovery, can you outline it?
14. You have a ton of great stories and analogies, like "Part of the recovery process... is a bit like untangling a set of wired earbuds that have been in your pocket too long." Where you learn to write?
15. You are going to get heat from people on both sides of the spectrum. From those who've faced trauma, they might hate the fact that you refrain from villifying all leaders and you say, "God allowed your spiritual trauma to happen." (230)
16. As a church leader I can't help but read the book and ask, why would a person want to lead a church ministry knowing that it is so easy to create trauma? We are in a leadership crisis. Your own church is lacking leadership. I'd hesitate taking a position there knowing I'm preaching to the trauma expert. How can a leader navigate these choppy waters?
17. I found the most challenging section to be in 272-273. You talk about how "Following the spirit means surrendering outcomes." You are talking to people you identify as "sloggers." What did you mean?
18. If a person is dealing with trauma, what are the first three steps they should take?
19. How can they reach you?