Trauma, Church Hurt, and the Body — Q&A with Therapist Nathalie DiDomenico
We sat down with Trauma & Narrative Therapist Nathalie DiDomenico, to discuss trauma, church hurt, the body, and how healing comes through curiosity, story, and reconnecting with self and God.
Do you consider yourself a “trauma therapist”?
Nathalie: I hesitate with that label. Trauma touches almost everyone, but when people hear “trauma therapist,” some think, That’s not me. My experience wasn’t bad enough.
I’d rather say I’m someone who seeks deep connection, compassion, and curiosity. If trauma surfaces—and it usually does—we address it together, without gatekeeping whose pain “counts.”
“Trauma isn’t about qualifying your story—it’s about being honest about its impact.”
What is trauma, really?
Nathalie: Trauma is an overwhelming or distressing experience. Its impact lands in three dimensions:
Mind: rumination, intrusive memories, emotional dysregulation, harsh self-judgment.
Body: nervous system stuck in hyper- or hypo-arousal, chronic health issues, physical disconnection.
Spirit/relationships: separation from others, self, God, and trust in life itself.
Because trauma is about impact, not the size of the event, two people can walk through the same moment and carry radically different scars.
Isn’t “trauma” overused?
Nathalie: That pushback often hides self-judgment: My story isn’t big enough to matter. Defining trauma only as catastrophic events dismisses many real wounds.
When we minimize our own experiences, we lose the chance for grace and healing.
What about “church hurt”? Why name it?
Nathalie: When pain is linked to God or a spiritual community, the impact is uniquely destabilizing. Church is meant to be safe and sacred. When harm comes from that place, trust in God, others, and even yourself fractures.
Naming “church hurt” isn’t trendy language—it’s honest. Without language, we can’t begin to heal.
“When harm comes in God’s name, it changes how we see God Himself.”
Is trauma connected to sin?
Nathalie: Think of trauma as the perpetuation of sin: being sinned against leaves an imprint in body and spirit. If unaddressed, that pain often spreads as new harm.
Spiritual trauma is particularly potent, because betrayal in God’s name distorts the very source of love and safety.
How does trauma affect the body?
Nathalie: Often through disconnection. We retreat into the mind, trying to control what feels uncontrollable.
Example: Eating disorders. Ignoring hunger or fullness creates distance from the body, trading sensation for control.
This isn’t rare—it’s culturally normalized. Many faith traditions even reinforce distrust of the body and emotions, framing them as deceptive or dangerous. Over time, this widens the split.
Are emotions and the body trustworthy?
Nathalie: Yes—they carry real information. Scripture shows us this:
Jesus wept with Lazarus’s family before raising him.
He affirmed Mary’s stillness while Martha busied herself.
He slept calmly in the storm.
These moments model God’s willingness to be with emotion and embodiment instead of bypassing them.
How do you help clients reconnect with their bodies?
Nathalie: Through safety, curiosity, and boundaries. Therapy can become a “playground for emotion.”
Instead of judging anger or sadness, we ask: Where do you feel it? What does it say? Curiosity breaks the rigid grip of judgment. Over time, people rediscover empathy for their own bodies and emotions.
Why emphasize story?
Nathalie: Stories shape identity. We all live inside names we’ve been given—too dramatic, too sensitive, unemotional. Retelling those stories in a compassionate setting lets people reclaim the truth: sensitivity is not weakness; emotion is not danger.
Story work reclaims gifts that judgment tried to bury.
Can you give an example?
Nathalie: Many women have been called “dramatic.” Over time, they discredit their own emotions. But revisiting those moments often reveals: I was sensitive in a way others couldn’t handle.
The problem wasn’t the sensitivity; it was others’ discomfort projected onto them. Retelling the story restores dignity.
For men, the opposite label—unemotional—can cut them off from sensitivity and depth, leaving them stuck in black-and-white living.
What role does judgment play in trauma?
Nathalie: Self-judgment is almost endless. It says: This isn’t enough. I shouldn’t feel this way. My body is wrong.
Judgment keeps us in our heads, disconnected from our bodies. Curiosity, by contrast, makes space for grace. Where judgment is rigid, curiosity is free-flowing.
How do biblical stories illuminate this?
Nathalie: Consider Genesis: before eating from the tree, Adam and Eve felt no shame in their bodies. Once they pursued knowledge of good and evil, shame covered them—they hid.
Disconnection from body has been part of the human story ever since. Christ’s ministry reclaims embodiment—touching the sick, grieving, eating with friends. Healing invites us back into presence with our created selves.
What practices help with reconnection?
Name impact, not magnitude: “This was overwhelming for me.”
Body scans: Pause for a minute. Notice breath, weight, three sensations. Don’t interpret—just observe.
Curiosity over judgment: Replace Why am I like this? with What’s this feeling asking for?
Story revisiting: Re-enter a naming moment (“dramatic,” “too sensitive”) and ask whose judgment it was, and what gift it masked.
Spiritual imagination: Picture Jesus present before the fix—grieving alongside you, unhurried.
What if therapy feels scary?
Nathalie: That fear is natural. Therapy asks you to show up with parts you may want hidden. But there’s no rush. The space is agenda-free.
At heart, it’s two people exploring what it means to be human—together.
The bottom line
Healing grows where we:
Name truthfully (trauma, church hurt, sin, judgment).
Reclaim the body as friend, not enemy.
Replace judgment with curiosity.
Retell stories with compassion and dignity.
Trust presence over performance—with ourselves, with God, with each other.
Whether you’ve known church hurt, feel split from your body, or just long for a kinder inner world, healing is possible. And you don’t have to do it alone.
Watch the full interview with Nathalie DiDomenico to hear these themes in her own voice. If you’d like to explore them in therapy, contact our team today—we’d be honored to walk with you.