Category Archives: #prisoners

Blameless and Forever Free Ministries believes trauma is perhaps the most avoided, ignored, belittled, denied, misunderstood, and untreated cause of human suffering that Dr. Peter Levine quoted.

How Our Earliest Experiences Influence Our Relationships Today…

How Our Earliest Experiences Influence Our Relationships Today…

“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.
    Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach…” (Isaiah 54:4 NIV)

Trauma is perhaps the most avoided, ignored, belittled, denied, misunderstood, and untreated cause of human suffering, according to Dr. Peter Levine, PhD, the Developer of Somatic Experiencing® A naturalistic and neurobiological approach to healing trauma that is taught in over 42 countries.

When the main thrust of programming is emotional growth, in order to get our incarcerated residents to analyze how their own anger and sadness alchemized into decisions that harmed others, it requires sitting in awkward silence so conversations can process the pain while being vulnerable.

This requires both time and devotion to building trust that initiates and draws out honest, raw, open and transparent conversations that are essential for healing and growth.

When is the last time you sat present just listening, being silent, seeking to understand before being understood?

Mattering is so important! The concept of belonging, it’s hard to hold onto if you think about it!

Meeting a basic, human, minimal need for someone is belonging; knowing that their lives matter. Resilience requires community and when we have a buffer zone, our communities become safer.

Every life has value!

The initial trauma of a young child may go underground, but it will return to haunt us! – James Garbarino

Until next time…

Blameless and Forever Free Ministries believes that culture changes one heart at a time. Transformed people transform culture.
Blameless and Forever Free Ministries understands that by the time a crime has been committed and a victim is harmed, the root causes of that crime may have occurred long ago. D.A. Kevin Barton

I’m Ready To Heal My Childhood Trauma!

“By the time a crime is committed and a victim is harmed, the root causes of that crime may have occurred long ago.” – District Attorney Kevin Barton

Recognizing the truth from what numerous scientific studies have established, along with countless medical professionals, that children who experience neglect, abuse, socioeconomic disadvantages and other forms of trauma are more likely to suffer from challenges such as mental illness, substance-abuse disorders and even physical health consequences.

This is called adverse childhood experiences, better known as ACEs.

Blameless and Forever Free Ministries #ACE 1 Unloving Ways

And when we look at the men and women who are incarcerated in the U.S., they have the highest levels of trauma and abuse in their lives, and we put them in a system that was never designed to work with that history???

Transforming our prisons through trauma-informed care is essential for healing and wholeness and restored lives for all affected by crime.

What these eyes see now matters. Every life matters! If we want safer communities, then it’s time we start changing the narrative and start investing in people, not prisons.

Blameless and Forever Free Ministries’ mission is to break the cycle of crime while restoring broken lives through God’s Great Love infused with restorative justice practices and trauma-informed care.

In order to decrease criminal recidivism, treatment intervention must focus on the effects of early life experiences.

Hurt people often Hurt others, but Healed people Heal!

Until next time…