Spirituality and Community in Times of Crisis: Encountering Spirituality in Indigenous Trauma Therapy

Abstract

On May 12, 2008, at 2:28 pm, an earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale struck Southwest China, with its epicenter in Wenchuan. The earthquake destroyed about 6.5 million homes, leaving 4.8 million people homeless. According to official figures, 69,197 people were confirmed dead, including some 5,335 school children, while an additional 18,222 were listed as missing (Sina.com 2009). As clinical or therapeutic workers, we are used to viewing an individual who has experienced tremendous trauma as simply suffering from PTSD, depression, or grief. We must come to appreciate the deeply personal and cultural spiritual resonances that our patients bring to us. This helps us to understand the meaning of spirituality in the context of Chinese culture when we face people suffering from trauma. In China, spirituality in community serves as a deep bond between the family system and the culture and faith system, penetrating into behavioral habits and individual experiences in everyday life, including responding to traumatic events and experiences. This case report focuses on survivors of the 2008 earthquake in order to understand how Chinese spirituality may be involved in the process of psychological rehabilitation. Clarifying this process will further the development of spirituality research and education in China, ultimately benefiting clinical psychological practice in China.