Two Languages, One Voice:
The Trauma-Informed Spiritual Exercises
Research indicates that about 70% of people worldwide have been exposed to at least one traumatic event. The sheer pervasiveness of trauma across the human condition is staggering. Even viewing the news or current events on TV or social media can prove triggering for some.
Contemporary trauma studies and clinical practice point to the impact of trauma on the mind and emotions. But what of the impact of trauma upon the soul and related implications for spiritual practice, Ignatian spirituality, and pastoral care? Trauma-informed care requires a focus on body and soul, mental health and spirituality – two languages, one voice in the recovery process.
This program is for Ignatian spiritual directors, supervisors and givers of the Spiritual Exercises who seek to grow their understanding, capacity, and skills to accompany affected victim-survivors and those who love them. Grounded in Jesuit Fr. Rob McChesney’s pioneering new book The Soul Also Keeps the Score: A Trauma-Informed Companion to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, the series explores the origin story of St. Ignatius through the lens of contemporary trauma theory; identifies concrete tools that are central to Ignatian spirituality; and highlights the trauma-informed significance of the Exercises’ “three powers of the soul” – memory, intellect, and will.
Participants will come to appreciate what Jesuit Fr. Kevin O’Brien, SJ, means when he says, “This book will change the way I understand and offer the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius to others.”
Program viewers are strongly advised to have a copy of Fr. McChesney’s book. (It is available from Liturgical Press here.)
Session 1, September 2025
In his first presentation, Fr. Rob McChesney, SJ, spoke about how the battle wounds that St. Ignatius sustained at Pamplona led to spiritual disorientation and suicidal ideation. He noted that grace was embedded in the wounds he bore, and meditation became a key component of his healing. The second presentation explored post-traumatic stress injury, moral injury, spiritual injury and the post-traumatic growth that can come from spiritual accompaniment. Fr. McChesney offered several examples of how the Spiritual Exercises have extended a healing pathway for those who have been impacted by trauma.
Recommended reading for Session 1:
Prologue, Chapters 1 and 2 of The Soul Also Keeps the Score: A Trauma-Informed Companion to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius by Fr. Robert McChesney, SJ.
With this recording we are including two Venn diagrams that were presented during the program:
Session 2, October 2025
Recommended reading for Session 2:
Chapters 6, 8, and 9 of The Soul Also Keeps the Score: A Trauma-Informed Companion to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius by Fr. Robert McChesney, SJ.
With this recording we are including a list of books that were mentioned during Fr. McChesney’s presentations.
Session 3, November 2025
Session 3 was led by Dr. Lisa López Levers, a noted expert in the field of trauma counseling, and Fr. Rob McChesney, SJ. Dr. Levers focused on the impact of trauma on the brain and body. Fr. McChesney spoke about how important it is for spiritual directors to consider the involvement of the mind, body and soul in the healing process for survivors of trauma.
Recommended reading for Session 3:
Foreword, Chapter 5 and Epilogue of The Soul Also Keeps the Score: A Trauma-Informed Companion to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius by Fr. Robert McChesney, SJ.
Resources:
Dr. Levers’s Powerpoint Presentation (Please note that these copyrighted slides are being shared for your personal use and are not intended for sharing with others.)
List of resources mentioned during Dr. Lever’s presentation.
About Our Presenters:
Rev. Robert W. McChesney, SJ, has been a member of the Jesuits East Province for more than fifty years. He has master’s degrees in educational psychology, divinity, and international relations. He has accompanied refugees and migrants for much of his adult life, most recently in the Middle East, and has served as director of the Jesuit Refugee Service in the USA.
Fr. Rob was Director of Campus Ministry at St Joseph's University in Philadelphia for six years and served ten years on the staff of the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University. His private practice includes the accompaniment of military veterans, as well as survivors of sexual assault and child abuse. He is rooted in wide experience of directed retreats and spiritual direction within the Ignatian tradition and is a member of the Georgetown Jesuit Community in Washington, DC.
Dr. Lisa López Levers, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LPC, CRC, NCC is Professor Emerita at Duquesne University where she serves as Scholar in Residence at the Center for Global Health Ethics. Her work includes 15 years counseling survivors of trauma, and she has published extensively on this topic. Her textbook Trauma Counseling: Theories and Interventions for Managing Stress, Crisis, Trauma, and Disaster (2nd ed., 2023, Springer) is considered the most comprehensive text focusing on trauma and disaster counseling from a clinical perspective.
Her trauma-focused projects include conducting a post-genocide trauma study in Rwanda; assisting colleagues at the Wind River Indian Reservation in establishing a continuum of culturally sensitive care; and working with numerous communities to address trauma and build community resilience. She has been awarded numerous grants and awards for her scholarship and service, and she served as President of the International Association for Resilience and Trauma Counseling.