I have this theory that to a degree, each one of us has had some type of trauma in our lives. Then when something triggers it, we react in ways that aren’t truly us. I believe it would do us all good to dive into this area whether we think something big happened to us or not. And even if there has been no trauma in our life, there could be many people around us with it. This book would be an excellent read in seeking to understand trauma so we can be an empathetic, compassionate person to the people who are working through it.

The authors, a husband and wife team who run a trauma healing program, dive deep down, below the symptoms, to dig out the soul wounds. I loved the thought they brought out about Adam and Eve and the trauma of sin.

They also do an excellent job of describing and uncovering misunderstandings of emotions and feelings. I loved this quote so much: “We lead with faith, support with facts, and end with feelings, not the other way around.” It was in the context of forgiveness (which they also handled beautifully), but how often can this be applied to many areas in our life? I know my feelings tend to lead, but really faith and facts should go first. When we rely on those two, in my experience, feelings eventually follow. But man, feelings can be a bear to wrestle with. The authors tackle this subject very well.

Every section was well thought out, explained great, and helpful. I really found the last section on breaking away from the lies surrounding your identity to be incredibly helpful for where I am currently.

Thank you Revell and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

How I rate books:

I largely rate books on how they make me feel which is incredibly subjective 🥰.

5⭐️–Absolutely adored and loved the book, a favorite.
4⭐️-Really enjoyed the book and would recommend it.
3⭐️-Liked the book, it was engaging and interesting and I am glad I read it, but I wasn’t drawn in emotionally as much as others.
2⭐️- There was a strong theme that I did not agree with or overall the book just left me with a bad feeling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Revell for allowing me to read this ARC version of Healing What's Hidden by Evan and Jenny Owens. My thoughts are my own.

Background
Up until reading Healing What's Hidden, I had never heard of Jenny or Evan Owens, a married couple who has created an amazing ministry and platform for recovery. Their specialization started with soldiers returning from deployment and later grew to anyone who has experienced trauma, because trauma can affect anyone and everyone.

Book Analysis
Healing What's Hidden takes their years of experience and succinctly creates a roadmap that will take you from Brokenness to acceptance to renewed vitality. Broken down into three sections, this book speaks to:
- What you need to do first
- What caused your brokenness
- What creates real healing

Each chapter is broken down into sections for easy reading. If you find yourself deep in the throws of trauma, you can read a small piece at a time to not become overwhelmed by the content. As the authors state, dealing with trauma creates an emotional response that can be difficult for many, and some people choose not to move forward because it is too hard. The way that the Owens write their book makes it much more palatable and lessens feelings of panic or fear that can come out of trauma work.

My Reaction
I enjoyed reading Healing What's Hidden. I think it's safe to say that most of us have been impacted by some form of trauma: whether it's intensely personal or peripheral, like a parent's cancer diagnosis, we have all found ourselves in a place of brokenness and needing healing.

Healing What's Hidden flows well from start to finish, although there was a small section that felt very long and I found myself skimming through that part. But, the pieces of me that need healing found their words cathartic to mind, body and soul.

Jenny and Evan write from a Christian perspective, pointing readers ultimately to the healing power of Christ. At the same time, they write from a open-minded point of view since trauma affects everyone, and I think they want to impact as many people as possible in and out of Christian circles. If I had any criticism for this book, and namely because this book is published through a Christian publisher, I wish it had focused even more on healing from a Christian perspective.

Who Would I Recommend Healing What's Hidden to?
I would recommend this book to everyone who has been impacted by trauma. This is a guidebook to healing, especially in the midst of or right after a traumatic experience. They use generalities to include all traumas, so if you are looking for trauma recovery in a specific area, you are going to be better off getting a book in your specific area of trauma. But to get through the initial moment of impact, this is a great resource to start with.

Additionally, Jenny and Evan have a website called rebootrecovery.com with additional resources and courses to join as you walk through this journey. Courses are $25 per person, and in many cases, can be fully paid for if you are unable to pay on your own. They also have a podcast called the Reboot Recovery Podcast.

Bottom Line
Choose healing over stuffing and denying your trauma. While it may be painful, healing will create a healthy space to move past the trauma and forward. Let Evan and Jenny help you as you deal with the pain, the emotions and the patterns that keep you stuck.

Healing What's Hidden
Practical Steps to Overcoming Trauma
by Evan Owens; Jenny Owens
Pub Date 06 Sep 2022
Revell
Christian


I am reviewing a copy of Healing What's Hidden through Revell and Netgalley:



In Healing What's Hidden we are reminded that there is hope after trauma. For some we can remember the exact moment our lives changed forever. The horrific accident. The miscarriage. The day they walked out. The moment our innocence was taken. Others of us can't remember a time when our lives weren't marked by trauma, abuse, or neglect. What happened to you was wrong and it hurt you, but it doesn't have to define you. You may be wounded, but you're not broken. You can overcome trauma and embrace a brighter future.



Husband and wife team Evan and Jenny Owens have helped thousands of people overcome the trials, tragedies, and traumas of their past in the past decade and in this book, they show you how you can too. With empathy and insight, Healing What's Hidden offers a practical, step-by-step process to help you acknowledge your trauma, heal your invisible wounds, and reclaim your future so you can live beyond the anxiety, depression, and shame trauma leaves behind. Others are already experiencing healing. Now it's your turn.


I give Healing What's Hidden five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!