In the summer of 2016, Jennifer Ohman-Rodriguez watched her husband slip away into a raging river. Tony’s career as a therapist specializing in trauma recovery could not shield her from the trauma surrounding his death, but it did point her toward healing from its aftereffects. As a progressive Lutheran minister ordained in the ELCA, Jennifer never attempts to minimize or “pray away” suffering. Instead, she guides trauma survivors toward healing through a combination of spiritual and clinical care.
Trauma recovery is a complex process requiring the support of skilled professional therapists, but how does faith in a loving God intersect with clinical healing? In search of an answer to this question, Jennifer turns to the Judeo-Christian scriptures that rage at God. Refusing to suppress grief, anger, or doubt, she reaches deeper into these difficult passages in solidarity with all who suffer, finding wisdom and sometimes solace amid the suffering. Honest reflections flow into heartfelt prayers that speak truth to trauma, delivered alongside clinically-developed somatic practices—some of which are guided by imbedded videos.
In the braiding of these three strands—reflection, prayer, and somatic practice—Jennifer Ohman-Rodriguez offers a companion to trauma recovery that embraces both faith and therapy. Guiding readers in over 50 research-based practices, Gathering Stars provides living proof that healing is possible.
