Corrections_Today_Spring_2025_Vol.87_No.1

News&Views

CORRECTIONAL CHAPLAIN PERSPECTIVES

Walking with the wounded Trauma-informed ministry in prisons By Sheridan Correa C orrectional chaplains play a vital role in minister

ing to incarcerated individuals, many of whom bear deep emotional, psychological, and spiritual wounds. Trauma-informed care provides chaplains with the framework to engage the incar cerated in a way that promotes healing rather than perpetuating harm and retraumatiz ing individuals.

Photo courtesy Geri Simpkins Photography

Understanding trauma in the incarcerated population The U.S. governmental agency, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAM SHA), defines trauma as: “Trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or threatening and that has lasting

adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being.” 1 This definition implies that trauma impacts a person over their lifespan. Also, trauma affects all aspects of human life and compels the need to serve and requires special care for the mind, body, and soul. 2 Many incarcerated individuals come from backgrounds marked by significant trauma, often beginning

By recognizing the trauma many incarcerated individuals have en dured, chaplains can help create a health-enhancing pathway toward restoration and wholeness. This perspective has shaped my personal journey in healing and in ministry, which has led me to value walking alongside traumatized individuals in ways that I may be involved in the healing process.

Corrections Today | Spring 2025

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