THEO-416: Theology and Trauma, Ashley Theuring (Theology)

Professor Ashley Theuring has taught Theology and Trauma for three semesters at Xavier. Traditionally, the course prepares nurses to think about their own spiritual and theological backgrounds as a strength in their career and to be sensitive to their patients in that way. Theuring’s class addresses how knowledge about religion and spirituality and the effects of trauma on individuals are important tools and lenses for the students to have in their careers in the health care field. Many nurses work with people who have had a traumatic experience, or have also experienced a form of trauma.

“The course is very theory heavy with many of the units focusing on psychology and the effects of trauma on the brain,” according to Professor Theuring.

She explained that the class works best when the students have someone in mind when exploring the connection between theology and trauma. Through a partnership with Damascus – a second chance model that supports formerly incarcerated workforce development - students were able to connect the theological and psychological theories to people in Greater Cincinnati. The class hosted two sessions this semester via Zoom where students were able speak with formerly imprisoned adults about their addiction and trauma. Students were then able to apply the lived experience of those experiencing trauma to the conversation they were having in class.

Gabby Sparro reflects, “[The class] felt more real…[and] what they said only lead me to have questions so that the discussion could go on. No one sounded like they were reading from a prepared speech, it felt like it came from the heart.”

When it comes to conducting a community engaged course Professor Thuering argues it is better and easier to start now even with the current restrictions. Professor Theuring went on to suggest, “if this had been a normal semester I think I would have been overwhelmed with how much the switch to community engaged learning would have shifted the class. However, because COVID already shifted things it made the transition to community engaged learning more natural.” She adds:

“If folks are thinking about doing it in the spring or in upcoming years COVID has made any engagement with the community feel great because we are so disconnected right now.”