Thirteenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

Trauma informed spiritual practice embraces the viewpoint that participants in small communities of learning and development such as faith communities, schools, religious institutions, and families have different needs. In a post-COVID society, research has shown that anxiety has seem to risen to all time highs in America. What may be equally true is more people are finally becoming aware that engaging the world requires an understanding of the needs of the communities one may find themselves belonging to. Touch, hugs, and direct contact in interpersonal relationships within communities should be re-examined to include and strong awareness of consent at the initial point of contact and throughout the period of engagement- from hello to goodbye. The likelihood of triggering unwanted feelings of anxiety and social awkwardness forces additional self-regulation in an extroverted world are strong, even though hugs, direct conversation both in person and through indirect, and normal greeting exercises have been considered appropriate methods of engaging known and unknown individuals. COVID protocols have sparked a new interest in how to engage communities in a world where the variety of psychological experiences and trauma are diverse. Therefore it is essential to explore the personality and psychological needs of the individuals that make up a community at the onset of the initial encounter, regardless if there is a common relationship between those that are attempting to conduct a standard greeting.