Rev. Neelley Hicks and Terrence Ryans introduce themselves as the founders and facilitators of Triumph Over Trauma, a 7-week program developed by NASMHPD to address trauma in faith communities. The document defines trauma and discusses how shame is often a core feature, as well as the concept of forgiveness. It provides an overview of the 7-week curriculum which includes check-ins, guidelines, education, discussion, and self-soothing activities. The goal is to create a trauma-informed learning environment and provide psycho-education and support.

1. TriumphOverTrauma.INFO

2. Welcome & Introductions
Rev. Neelley Hicks: TWK UM Deacon,
Founder & Executive Director - Harper Hill Global &
Founder of Triumph Over Trauma
Terrence Ryans: St. Matthews UMC Lay Leader,
Outreach Minister, Social Worker at Ronald McDonald
House - Memphis

3. What is trauma?
Individual trauma results from an Event, series of events, or set of
circumstances that is Experienced by an individual as physically or
emotionally harmful or life-threatening and has lasting negative
Effects on the person’s functioning and mental, physical, social,
emotional, or spiritual well-being.
As defined by SAMHSA
(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration)

4. Shame is often a core feature of trauma. With no awareness of how
trauma impacts the mind and body, survivors may not understand why
they react the way they do in the face of stressful or triggering events.
They may feel great shame afterward for their reactions, or they may feel
“out of control” or “crazy.
TAMAR Facilitator’s Manual P14
Shame

5. Forgiveness
Forgiveness means different things to different people; however, in general, it means letting go of
feelings of resentment or retribution towards self or others.
● Forgiveness is for you. It means that the past negative actions and decisions that we and/or
others have made will no longer dictate our present and future decisions or actions.
● Forgiveness does not mean reconciliation. We can forgive someone and never reconnect; the
choice to have a relationship is completely ours.
● Forgiveness is optional. While it is important on our healing journeys, the choice to forgive is a
personal internal decision.
● Forgiveness does not erase boundaries. When boundaries have been established they only
need to change if it is self-directed.
● Forgiveness is a journey. It is not an immediate, one-time event. It is an intentional, conscious
act. Sometimes we see progress, and at other times we don’t, but we keep working.
TAMAR Facilitator’s Manual P14

6. Rev. Neelley Hicks is partnering with the National Association of State Mental Health Program
Directors to bring the best in trauma-informed care resources to congregations.

7. What participants say about TAMAR – the curriculum developed by NASMHPD

8. Website
developed for
faith
communities by
NASMHPD and
Harper Hill
Global – Rev.
Neelley Hicks’
non-profit.

9. 7-week Small-
Group Guide
Free to download at
TriumphOverTrauma.info

10. Context
Supplements
for Faith
Leaders

11. Addressing the
Traumatic
Effects of
Racism

13. “The Bible is a trauma story
wrapped in God’s love.”
– Charryse N. Wright

14. Trauma
Addiction
Mental Health
And
Recovery
A 7-Week
Resource for
Community
Care

15. Creating a Trauma-Informed Learning Environment
● Facilitate a sense of safety
● Trustworthiness and transparency
● Encourage voice and choice
● Engage and affirm
● Support empowerment
● Practice awareness of gender, history, and culture

17. Every session includes:
I. Check-in at beginning
II. Group Guidelines
III. Interactive education and discussion
IV. Mind-body skills soothing activity
V. Check-out at ending

18. Check-In
What level of stress are
you feeling on a scale of
1-10?

19. Guidelines for Participation
What do you need to trust this group?
● Confidentiality
● Listen
● Don’t interrupt
● No cross-talk
● No name-calling
Save this list
of
agreements
to post and
review at the
beginning of
every
session.

20. What can you do if you begin to feel uncomfortable?
I can ask to talk to someone.
I can ask to take a break.
I can draw or doodle.
I can practice other stress
management skills.

21. Education and Discussion
TAMAR is a psycho-educational group.
You will need:
● The ability to facilitate effectively, compassionately, and
empathetically
● A location (either online or in-person) that provides a
confidential space, and
● Referral resources for guiding people to additional support
through local mental health services.

22. Self-Soothing Skills
● Breathing Skills
● Progressive Muscle Relaxation
● Finding your oasis

23. Session 1: What’s in it for me?
Session 2: What is trauma?
Session 3: Responses to Stress and Trauma
Session 4: Recognizing Triggers
Session Titles

24. Session 5: Self-Soothing & Clustering
Session 6: Recognizing State of Mind &
Choosing Wise Mind
Session 7: Reframing Your Life Story

25. Session 1
Page 18

26. Tamar
2 Samuel 13:1-22
Christian Supplement
Session 1, Pages 1-2

27. ● What resonated with you in this story?
● What are your thoughts on King David?
Absalom? Amnon? Jonadad?
● Do you think Tamar felt shame?
● Who needs forgiveness in this story?
Why?

28. How has forgiveness or the inability to
forgive played out in your life?

29. Session 1: What’s in it for me?
Upon completion of this session, participants will:
● Know what is expected of them in this group,
● Recognize how TAMAR can benefit them in the short
and long term, and
● Take away one idea about how to cope with stress.
Pg. 18

30. When Bad Things Happen to Good People Pg. 21
● Childhood sexual, physical,
emotional abuse
● Neglect, abandonment
● Forced migration
● Rape, date rape, sexual
assault
● Trafficking
● Domestic violence
● Experiencing/witnessing other
violent crime
● Serious injury or illness
● Death, loss, grief
● Institutional abuse and neglect
● War/terrorism
● Community and school
violence, bullying
● Chronic stressors like
racism, poverty,
homophobia, gender
discrimination
● Natural disasters like
earthquakes, floods,
hurricanes
● Any misuse of power by
one person over another

31. Discussion
Would you like to add to the list?
Did any of these things happen to you?
When Bad Things Happen to Good People Pg. 21

32. Well-known People with Difficult Pasts TAMAR Pg. 22
a) This politician grew up wondering if something was wrong with him
because his mom was white, and his dad was black. He wondered how
his life would have been different if his father had not left him at a very
early age.
b) As a child, this mega-famous female rapper, TV star, and film star was
sexually abused by a teenager charged with her care.
c) This TV celebrity billionaire’s growing-up years involved poverty, drugs,
sexual abuse, and pregnancy (at age 14) of a baby who died shortly after
birth.

33. Abdominal
Breathing

34. Check-Out
What level of stress
are you feeling on a
scale of 1-10?

37. For more information
● Rev. N. Neelley Hicks, nhicks@harperhill.global
● Read more at TriumphOverTrauma.info
○ Download program bundle
○ Sign up for facilitator training
○ Listen to the Women Arise podcast