Rachel’s Vineyard~Healing the Pain of Abortion

About our Presenter:

Theresa Karminski Burke, MA, Ph.D., LPC, NCP, DAPA

Dr. Theresa Burke is the Founder and Executive Director of Rachel’s Vineyard – the largest post abortion ministry in the world. Her healing programs offer a unique sensory based treatment which integrates emotional, psychological, and spiritual dimensions.

Theresa has lectured and trained professionals internationally on the subject of post-abortion trauma and healing. Her books include Forbidden Grief – The Unspoken Pain of Abortion with David C. Reardon (Acorn Books), The Contraception of Grief – The Genesis of Anguish Conceived by Abortifacients and Sterilization, and Sharing the Heart of Christ, with Kevin Burke. She recently presented as an expert for the 2011 Pontifical Academy of Life’s General Assembly. Her topic was The Aftermath of Abortion: Data from Scientific Literature.

Additional Healing Models

Theresa also developed a five day program for healing sexual abuse entitled – Grief to Grace – Reclaiming the Gift of Human Dignity. This program has been used to address all forms of abuse, including sexual abuse from clergy and religious leaders. Professionally crafted and doctrinally sound, Grief to Grace provides professional therapeutic staff. All treatment is based on a firm Christian foundation as well as sound medical and psychological principles, and a perceptive understanding of trauma. Her treatment programs are considered an intensive and uninterrupted “therapy for the soul.”

Theresa’s latest treatment model addresses the spiritual and psychological trauma suffered by combat veterans. The program is entitled Duty To Heal – Finding Peace for a Soldiers Heart. Future plans are also on the way for two additional healing programs: Genesis After Genocide, a program for psychological and spiritual reconciliation and healing due to the trauma of genocide, terrorism, and civil war; and Soul Care to Restore the Foundation of Your Spirit: An Integrated Psychological and Spiritual Sensory Based Treatment for Medical Trauma for those who have suffered with trauma from cancer treatments, surgical procedures, and other traumatic illnesses.

More on Theresa’s background

Theresa’s counseling work has focused on women’s issues, bereavement, pregnancy loss, sexual abuse, eating disorders and anxiety management. She is the co-administrator and founder of Covenant Family Resources, a licensed Children and Youth Agency which supports couples as they build families through adoption. Theresa and her husband ran Mother’s Home, a crisis pregnancy residence, which provided housing and computer job training for women in crisis pregnancy and their children.

Theresa holds an undergraduate degree in English Communications with a concentration in social work. Theresa went on to Immaculata University to earn an M.A. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. She is a Nationally Certified Psychologist, a Certified Diplomat of the American Psychotherapy Association, a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Board Certified Clinical Psychotherapist, and a Diplomat of the American Board of Forensic Counselors. She holds membership in the Society for Catholic Social Scientists and the American Association of Christian Counselors. Theresa is the proud mother of five children.

Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion
Theresa Burke with David C. Reardon

For more than 30 years, our nation has argued about abortion. In that time, more than 30 million women have had one or more abortions.

While the political battle rages, little has been done to address the emotional needs of those who struggle with the aftermath of an experience that is deeply traumatic and often coerced and unwanted. Instead, social taboos stifle discussion of abortion-related feelings. Women are left feeling isolated, and their recovery is inhibited.

Forbidden Grief is a compelling, haunting review of Dr. Theresa Burke’s experience in counseling hundreds of women who have experienced abortion. Dr. Burke exposes the obstacles in the way of post-abortion healing, reviews the full range and depth of post-abortion issues, and illustrates how we can create a more understanding, just and healing society where women will no longer be required to hide their pain.

About Rachel’s Vineyard Retreats:

The Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat healing journey uses creative “Living Scripture Exercises,” and rituals which engage the mind, body, and soul.  Living Scriptures coupled with group activities, prayer, therapeutic facilitation, cognitive restructuring, and discussions offer an effective process for grief work grounded in Jesus Christ and the Word of God.

Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries has revolutionized the field of post abortion counseling throughout the United States and internationally, providing an outstanding empirically validated treatment model for evangelization and healing.

This distinct program provides an exceptional and effective recovery process for victims of trauma and those who have spent years in talk therapy, but still struggle to move beyond their traumatic experience. Since 1987, the Rachel’s Vineyard model has spread to 48 states and to 57 countries. The Rachel’s Vineyard retreat is currently offered in 22 languages, with other translations in progress. Rachel’s Vineyard is a ministry of Priests for Life/Gospel of Life Ministries.

For more on Rachel’s Vineyard Retreats, visit their website.