How Christians Respond to Feedback: The Difference Between Power and Impact
- Conscious Coore
- Oct 3
- 2 min read
Thoughts from a Safe and Sound newsletter
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It’s never easy to be the one willing to lend a hand, take responsibility, and guide others toward healing. But what happens when you give your best effort, only to be met with criticism or negative feedback?
A core part of trauma-informed care is recognizing the power you hold—power that can be shared or leveraged. That also means when those you serve offer feedback, there must be a readiness to truly receive and respond. Care at its foundation requires it, and trauma-informed care goes further, tailoring itself to the unique and sometimes unexpected needs of those who are trauma-affected.
When spiritual care enters the picture, the responsibility deepens. In these spaces, how you respond to feedback becomes even more pivotal than the authority you hold.
Recently, in our Safe and Sound Monthly Meet-Up, we explored why feedback is not just uncomfortable but essential in trauma-informed care. Together, we navigated the challenges of disclosing faith in clinical spaces, protecting clients from bias, and clarifying boundaries to foster healthier approaches to ministry.
A question I often hear about these sessions is, “Will it be recorded?” The answer is no—and for a very good reason.
Our Safe and Sound calls are just as sacred and vulnerable as a one-on-one conversation. Deeply personal stories are shared, and individuals from every background come together around topics that impact us all.
It was inspiring to see therapists, social workers, students, ministers, family members, and community leaders say yes to that vulnerability and lean into what makes trauma-informed care real and authentic.
And truly—it’s not something you want to watch on a replay. It’s something you want to experience in the room.
Feedback as a Reflection of Impact, Not Just Power
For Christians in leadership or care roles, it can be tempting to focus on the authority or influence you hold. But impact isn’t measured by power—it’s measured by how well you respond, adjust, and meet the needs of those you serve. Feedback, even when difficult, is a mirror showing where your influence can grow and how your care can truly transform lives.
Being willing to receive criticism, especially in spaces where faith intersects with care, is an act of humility and stewardship. It’s a recognition that leadership is not about controlling outcomes but about empowering others to heal, thrive, and grow.
In trauma-informed care, and particularly in spiritual care, this distinction can mean the difference between maintaining power and creating lasting, meaningful impact.
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Conscious Coore is the founder of Flamingo Trauma Recovery, the creator of the Trauma-Informed Spiritual Intervention® framework, and author of Fundamentals of Trauma-Informed Spiritual Intervention. With a background in psychology, education, and inner healing ministry, she equips faith-aligned professionals to integrate clinical care and biblical wisdom for lasting transformation. Through her work with Jesus in the Marketplace, she highlights where Safe and Sound work is happening, even in spaces that often overlook the need for it.
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