READING REPORT 2

Reading Report 2: Adsit

Courtney Spear

Liberty University

Summary
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Chris Adsit's combat Trauma Healing Manual is a step-by-step guide to going through

the healing process of war veterans considering Christianity. Adsit's "Combat Trauma Healing

Manual" provides a complete approach to combat trauma treatment that addresses both the

physical and emotional components. The guidebook is divided into various phases, each

concentrating on a different aspect of the healing process. The manual's layout guarantees that

persons seeking rehabilitation from war trauma may readily grasp and execute the solutions

given (Adsit, 2007). Step one asks, "Where was God" (Adsit, 2007, p. 11). Step one is to

understand the spiritual context of what you are experiencing. To assist them in understanding

that their terrible battle experiences and current predicament are the outcome of free will, the

fall, Satan's purposes on Earth, and man's inhumanity to man. Step 2 emphasizes the critical role

of addressing physical health and psychological aspects in combat trauma healing. It highlights

the impact that their condition is a common response to trauma. (Adsit, 2007). Step two also

discusses secondary trauma and explains what it is. This is when the PTSD sufferer causes

secondary trauma to a spouse due to his/her own PTSD trauma triggers and responses. It is

discussed that posttraumatic stress disorder is a natural reaction to an unnatural event. (Adsit,

2007) In Step 3 “Where’s The Hospital.” This is about constructing your healing environment.

The first steps start discussing to fill your environment with God or to be filled with the holy

spirit and be powered by him. This step discusses your circle and the type of friends you have.

Another step in this step 3 is spiritual breathing. Prayer is discussed as being a vital

communication with your divine commander that is very much needed. To conclude this step

having a good mindset was discussed and it was mentioned that the mindset is vital to creating a

healing environment. In step 4 “How Did I Change?” This step begins with a journaling project

to tackle a traumatic experience. It is all about becoming centered and relaxed before beginning
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that exercise. Writing your story is another exercise in this step where it urges you to write about

your story before your traumatic experiences going to war. (Adsit, 20007) In step 5, “How Can I

Stand It?” This step is about processing your loss and grief. Grief is triggered by a loss of some

sort, losing someone or something we had an attachment to. We may grieve when a shirt is

ruined or when our favorite team loses but more profound grief happens when a pet dies, or a

relationship ends or when someone we love passes on. A grief and trauma counselor Dr. H.

Norman Wright tells us “Loss is not the enemy. Not facing its existences is.” (Adsit, 2007) Loss

is a fuse to a bomb and now you must deal with the wreckage afterwards. Many things that may

come with grief is anger, rage, weeping, guilt, blaming, running away and numbing and many

more. There were checkboxes and the more items checked of grief symptoms then that is better.

It begins the healing process. (Adsit, 2007)

Application

Adsit's "Combat Trauma Healing Manual" (2007) offers invaluable insights, both

individually and professionally. This thorough guidebook provides a multifaceted strategy to

properly dealing with and overcoming trauma, which may significantly improve individual

resilience and emotional well-being. Furthermore, these ideas may be implemented in a variety

of vocations that demand empathy and compassion for those who have been through trauma. In

terms of a career, I intend to work in crisis counseling or as a self-help professional. When

dealing with trauma victims, the information gained from Adsit's guidebook provides myself and

others with a compassionate perspective. These ideas can be extremely beneficial to first

responders who regularly engage with trauma sufferers. Integrating Adsit's concepts into

professional practice can thereby improve basic empathy, emotional understanding, and

resilience, eventually leading to career enrichment. I do not have combat trauma, but I do have
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secondary trauma from interacting with my own combat veteran, and this manual is helpful for

my own personal growth in that aspect. This book manual has a lot of great insight to personal

healing, including journaling, something that can be helpful for my own growth and well-being,

this book ideally will help change my actions in my own healing journey for secondary trauma

and that way it will help enrich my future and my future career.

Critical Thinking Questions

Within the context of this reading report on Adsit's "Combat Trauma Healing Manual,"

critical thinking becomes a vital tool for assessing, interpreting, and evaluating the provided

material. Furthermore, five key questions I expressed are: 1. How can the principles and

practices discussed in Adsit's manual be effectively applied to the field of psychology,

specifically within trauma counseling and therapy? What potential limitations or challenges

might arise when implementing a Christ-centered approach to combat trauma healing in a society

characterized by religious and cultural diversity? 3. How can the insights obtained from the

manual contribute to the development of intervention programs targeting veterans and active-

duty military personnel? In what ways can the concepts of resilience and cultivating healthy

relationships, as outlined in the manual, be transferred to other contexts such as workplace

environments or personal relationships? What ethical considerations must mental health

professionals bear in mind when applying the concepts and techniques discussed in the manual to

combat trauma healing?

Conclusion

The "Combat Trauma Healing Manual" is a must-have resource that is based on realistic

and integrative frameworks for trauma healing and rehabilitation. It considers the physical,
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emotional, and spiritual elements, providing a holistic approach that builds resilience and better

understanding.

References

Adsit, C. (2007). The Combat Trauma Healing Manual: Christ-centered Solutions for

Combat Trauma. Newport News, VA: Military Ministry Press. ISBN: 9781419678202.