The Trauma Tree - by Lisa Saruga (Paperback)

About the Book

"In a broken world, there is hope for healing. Trauma is a liar. It tells us that all hope is lost; that our pain will always define us. Lisa Saruga, a licensed professional counselor and EMDR therapist, knows this deception firsthand. Having walked through her own traumatic experience, she now passionately guides others toward healing. Mere survival isn't the goal, even if that's all we feel capable of. But while we may never fully "get over" trauma, we can get through it to experience joy, peace, and goodness with the help of the Lord. The Trauma Tree illuminates the God-given resources we were created with, many we may not even realize we possess, and offers methods for processing emotions, finding a healthy support system, and starting effective therapeutic paths to healing. With authentic accounts of growth from others who have navigated their own trauma, Saruga demonstrates how readers can embark on a similar journey-going beyond survival and growing toward wholeness"--

Book Synopsis

"You will be gripped by the author's honesty and authenticity throughout the chapters of this book. More than that, you will gain the tools to move from survival mode to wholeness. If you or someone you know has experienced trauma, this is one of the most important books you can read."
--Carol Kent, speaker, founder and executive director of Speak Up Ministries, and author of When I Lay My Isaac Down

Trauma doesn't have to define you.

Trauma is a liar. It claims that all hope is lost and that pain dictates your life. Lisa Saruga understands this struggle deeply. As a licensed counselor, trauma therapist, and a victim of sexual assault, she's been there, and she knows the way out.
The Trauma Tree is a companion for your healing journey. Saruga walks with you through her own story and the stories of survivors, demonstrating how you can move through trauma, avoid re-traumatization, and grow stronger in your mind, body, and spirit.

Woven throughout is a parable of Saruga's front-yard pear tree, a representation of life and longevity . . . until it was crushed by what seemed like irreparable physical trauma. For the pear tree, and maybe for you, too, a devastating event has transformed life from flourishing to simply surviving.

But mere survival doesn't have to be the goal.

Discover the God-given resources you were created with and learn to process emotions, find a healthy support system, and start an effective therapeutic path to healing. Move toward God's goal for you: healing and wholeness.

Review Quotes

Survivor. Overcomer. Counselor. Speaker. Encourager. Friend. These words describe Lisa Saruga. You will be gripped by her honesty and authenticity throughout the chapters of this book. More than that, you will get the tools to move from survival mode to wholeness. If you or someone you know has experienced trauma, this is the most important book you can read. Every church and Christian counseling organization should place The Trauma Tree in the hands of those who need to know it's possible to move from surviving to thriving.--Carol Kent, founder and executive director of Speak Up Ministries, speaker, and author (9/11/2024 12:00:00 AM)

The Trauma Tree is a hope-filled book that will help any reader identify the right role of trauma in his or her life or the life of someone they love. The strengths-based, biblical approach Lisa shares as a therapist and someone with personal experience provides the right balance of authentic empathy and practical tools for education and healing. I highly recommend The Trauma Tree and will use it with clients or friends to help them understand the role of trauma and adverse experiences in the lives of the ones they love.--Brenda L. Yoder, LMHC, therapist, school counselor, and author of Uncomplicated (9/11/2024 12:00:00 AM)

Healing from trauma is some of the sweetest revenge after you've endured the unthinkable. Who better to plant the seeds, water the flowers, and help hand you the beautiful bouquet that is forged through life's desert experiences than a trauma counselor who has healed from her own unimaginable trauma and lived to write about it. We all bear the scars of the pain from our past, but what the Enemy intended for harm, God will use for good if we allow. Lisa Saruga is proof of that. May her story and her professional experience encourage you on your healing journey.--Michelle Bengtson, clinical neuropsychologist, author of several award-winning books (9/11/2024 12:00:00 AM)

Lisa Saruga delivers a compelling story about her decades-long quest for justice and healing. Her remarkable personal courage in dealing with not only trauma but a system that all too often fails to protect victims and survivors is a testament to the strength of her faith.--Brian Ross, correspondent on the Law & Crime Network and author of The Madoff Chronicles (9/11/2024 12:00:00 AM)

The combination of her lived experience and her years as a professional therapist make Lisa Saruga a most trustworthy guide for those walking the healing journey from trauma to wellness. Thoughtful, informative, and compassionate, this book is a much-needed gift.--Steve Siler, founder and director of Music for the Soul (9/11/2024 12:00:00 AM)