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.