Published date: Aug 09 2024

Journal Title: KnE Social Sciences

Issue title: 6th Social and Humaniora Research Symposium (6th SoRes): Community & Youth Development

Pages: 230–246

DOI: 10.18502/kss.v9i22.16723

Daniel Trihandarkhadaniamdg@gmail.comSekolah Tinggi Teologi Jemaat Kristus Indonesia, Salatiga, Indonesia

Indonesian theological students often come to seminary with handful of problems from the onset of their life. The expectation from the traditional Christian family for their children to set the behavior right in the seminary is outdatedly common. This study explores a case of a 21-year-old theological male student who suffered verbal and physical abuse from his parents. During the initial four weeks of therapeutic alliance with the author, the student exhibited traumatic symptoms of severe hostility and somatic re-enactment of past adverse experiences. He had been known to possess talisman and some sacred relics for witchcraft in the past which contemporarily yield nightmare and terror at night. The qualitative case study explored the traumatic problem of the student through a 12-month observation and in-depth interview. Through experiential therapy of gestalt, CBT, and forgiveness therapy in the last seven months, the student showed reduced symptoms of hostility, somatic complaints, and impulse-behavior. The spiritual formation of prayer and meditation of the Scripture have been useful for the patient in dealing with his spiritual problems.

Keywords: counselling, trauma, seminary, students, syncretism, theology, therapy

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