Spiritual Dimensions of Trauma and Posttraumatic Growth: An Ethnographic Exploration

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This article draws on the author's experience of childhood sexual abuse as a source to explore the spiritual dimensions of such abuse and the spiritual pathways toward healing.  The author outlines the spiritual injury inherent in trauma- often "a reverse religious experience"- and the ways that spirituality and spiritual practices can impede healing from traumatic events.  The author notes some important theological beliefs- the sacred compassion of God as well as self-compassion as a healing path, and finishes with "coordinates" that were powerful in the spiritual process of healing and recovery.  This article is powerful in the use of autoethnography as a resource in this exploration, and I found it clear, compelling, and deeply moving.   This work will be meaningful to clinicians and survivors.  A few brief notes are included in the attached manuscript PDF.  

This article, however, could be improved with the addition of other resources or citations, though I do not consider this suggestion mandatory for publication.   A few grammatical or type setting notes are in the attached manuscript.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

please see the attachment

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

See also attached file

 

I miss many elements that are typical for the auto-ethnographic method such interviews with other persons, art, journaling, field notes. focus groups which can help to put in context the lived experience of the author.

Then his/her narrative should be discussed or analyzed e.g. in conversation with other sources. On spirituality e.g. S. Shooter, How Survivors of AbuseRelate to God (Explorations in Practical, Pastoral and Empirical Theology), Surey, Ashgate, 2012; S. Rossetti, The Impact of Child Sexual Abuse on Attitudes towards God and the Catholic Church, in Child Abuse and Neglect 19 (1995) 1469-1481, Kalsched, D., Trauma and the Soul. A psych-spiritual approach to human development and its interruption, Routledge, 2013; Pereda, Noemí ; Segura, Anna; Abbey, Antonia ; Littleton, Heather ; DiLillo, David, Drawing from the well,  Women,s spiritual experiences in healing from child sexual abuse, Psychology of violence, 2021-09, Vol.11 (5), p.488-496

 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Please go ahead with the publication.