Trauma can leave a lasting mark, etching itself into our lives in ways that feel inescapable. It can fill our inner world with chaos, noise, and overwhelming emotions. It can shape how we act and interact with others, sometimes to the point of pushing us into isolation or reactivity. But don’t lose hope. Amidst this turmoil lies a powerful tool for healing: meditation. Far from being a mere relaxation technique, meditation offers a pathway to stillness, a way to step back from the storm of thoughts and feelings and find a place of peace. It’s a practice that can quiet the mind, regulate the body, and restore hope.

In this episode of the Live from Rest podcast, Steve Smith sits down with Giles Lascelle, an ordained minister, seasoned psychotherapist, and founder of the UK-based charity Trauma Breakthrough. They delve into the role of meditation and mindfulness in trauma recovery. Giles shares his expertise from decades of supporting adult survivors of childhood trauma. He explains how meditation can shift brain and body chemistry, replacing stress hormones with calming ones, and offers practical insights into finding stillness amid life’s challenges.

This episode is a must-listen for trauma survivors, those supporting them, or anyone seeking tools to manage stress and cultivate inner peace. By tuning in, you’ll discover accessible techniques to quiet your mind, gain hope for healing, and learn how even a brief moment of stillness can change your life. Giles’ compassionate wisdom will leave you equipped and inspired to embrace meditation as a daily practice for renewal.

Here are three reasons why you should listen to this episode:

1. Learn how meditation can transform the lives of trauma survivors by quieting the mind, reducing stress hormones, and fostering a sense of hope.
2. Understand the profound connection between stillness and healing, and how mindfulness helps people step back from chaotic emotions and observe their thoughts.
3. Gain actionable insights into building a daily meditation practice that aligns mind, body, and spirit.

Resources

• Live from Rest Podcast: Apple Podcasts | Spotify 
• Live from Rest App: Google Play | App Store
• Read Breakthrough: The Art of Surviving by Fr. Giles Lascelle
• Visit Trauma Breakthrough

Episode Highlights

Meditation as a Path to Healing Trauma

• Trauma often leaves survivors trapped in a whirlwind of chaotic thoughts and emotions, a reality that underscores the healing potential of meditation.
• Host Steve Smith opens the episode by introducing Giles Lascelle, an ordained minister and psychotherapist who leads Breakthrough, a UK-based charity dedicated to trauma recovery.
• He highlights how meditation has become a cornerstone for finding peace, a passion he’s eager to explore with Giles.
• Excitement builds as the conversation promises to unpack how stillness and mindfulness can offer a lifeline to those wrestling with the lingering effects of trauma.

Giles Lascelle's Background and Work

• Since the mid-1990s, Giles Lascelle has honed his skills as a psychotherapist, bringing decades of experience to his leadership of Breakthrough.
• The charity primarily serves adult survivors of childhood trauma, though its reach extends to those impacted by trauma later in life, offering a beacon of hope in Southwest England.
• Based in Bath, Breakthrough draws people from as far as an hour and a half away, a testament to the overwhelming demand for its services amid limited capacity.
• Steve confirms the charity's oversubscription and plans to provide a link to their website and mention Giles' book.

How Meditation Heals Trauma’s Wounds

• Giles explains how trauma creates a noisy inner world, making it difficult for survivors to find peace.
• Meditation and mindfulness help survivors find stillness and observe their thoughts and emotions without being overwhelmed.
• An example is one of Gile's clients who, after 20 years of mental turmoil, found a fleeting hour of quiet through meditation, a breakthrough that planted seeds of hope.

Fr. Giles: “I had somebody comment recently, a client of mine, comment recently that this was the first time it had been quiet in her head for 20 years.”

• The discussion deepens as Steve and Giles explore trauma’s toll on both mind and body, noting how chronic illness rates soar among survivors, and how stillness can shift this trajectory by calming stress hormones.

Practical Applications of Meditation

• Regular meditation practice emerges as a key to resilience, a point Giles stresses as essential for managing stress and anxiety before they spiral out of control.
• Steve reflects on his own journey, sharing how meditation transformed his sleep yet proved hard to maintain during calmer times, a relatable struggle for many.
• Connecting with an inner still place becomes a lifeline, Giles explains, enabling people to catch emotional reactions early and respond with calm rather than chaos.
• Agreement surfaces between the two as they emphasize preparing for life’s storms through consistent practice, turning meditation into a proactive shield against overwhelm.

Fr. Giles: “I've learned to catch those reactions before they become overwhelming, and take a step back and just just kind of observe from a place of stillness.”

Weaving Faith into Healing

• Steve asks about the faith backgrounds of Giles' clients, and Giles explains the 50/50 split between Christian and non-Christian clients.
• Spirituality plays a flexible role in Giles’ work, integrated gently for those open to it, without ever being forced, ensuring inclusivity in the healing process.
• Steve shares how his Live from Rest app uses meditation to foster a connection with God and biblical truths, a method that resonates with Giles’ approach of using simple prayers like the Jesus Prayer.
• Anchoring in faith through stillness becomes a shared theme, as Giles highlights how short scriptures or prayers can ground clients in God’s presence, offering stability amid turmoil.

Fr. Giles: “Sometimes just a single word, something that they feel, connects them with God and just helps them to anchor themselves in God from a place of stillness.”

Giles' Personal Healing Journey

• Healing from his own trauma, Giles reveals, began before his Christian faith took root, blending psychological tools with a later discovery of something greater.
• A genuine connection to a higher power, he argues, elevates healing beyond the partial relief therapy alone can offer, a lesson drawn from his own life.
• As a minister, walking alongside clients becomes his calling—embodying Christ’s love and presence, planting seeds of faith even for those unaware of the shift.
• Gratitude flows from Steve as he celebrates Giles’ insights, eagerly anticipating a future talk on the Jesus Prayer and its role in spiritual practice.

Conclusion and Resources

• Giles shares information about his upcoming book, "Breakthrough: The Art of Surviving," published by Instant Apostle.
• He provides details on how to purchase the book from their website and other booksellers, including the Kindle version.
• Steve plans to include a link to Giles' website in the podcast's blurb, making it accessible to international listeners.
• The episode closes with an invitation to embrace meditation daily, with Steve pointing to the app’s “Mindful” category as a starting point for cultivating peace and presence.

About Father Giles Lascelle

Father Giles Lascelle is a priest, author, and founder of Trauma Breakthrough, a charity dedicated to supporting survivors of trauma through therapy, mindfulness, and spiritual guidance. With years of experience working with individuals navigating the aftermath of deep emotional and physical wounds, Father Giles has developed a compassionate approach that integrates Christian meditation practices to foster healing and emotional stability. His work focuses on helping survivors rediscover peace, build resilience, and deepen their connection with God.

He is also the author of Breakthrough: The Art of Surviving, a comprehensive guide for trauma survivors and their supporters. The book draws from his extensive work in trauma recovery, offering practical tools, insights, and encouragement for those seeking a path to restoration. Through his ministry and teachings, Father Giles empowers individuals to find strength in stillness, the transformative power of meditation, and the enduring presence of God’s love.

Connect with Father Giles through LinkedIn and Facebook.

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