This presentation by Sangeetha Thomas, LPC, titled “Enduring and Grieving Unresolved Ruptures,” was recorded on April 10, 2026. The lecture was part of the 2026 conference “Our Flourishing, Our Faith: Navigating Rupture and Repair in Asian American Christian Communities,” presented by the Center for Asian American Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary and the Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University. You can learn more about this conference here: https://ourflourishing.org/.
"This plenary will explore how we can grieve ruptures that are left unresolved between persons and endure our experience of separation through faith. Whether by estrangement, emotional cutoff, immigration trauma, abuse, or death, some ruptures may not be repaired in our lifetimes, leaving our hearts with an ever-aching longing for connection. Participants will learn how to navigate this separation through the lens of neuroscience, psychology, and faith and discover rest in the peace and love of Christ."
Sangeetha S. Thomas is a Licensed Professional Counselor and the Owner of Nepsis Counseling in Dallas, Texas. She is also the Director of Mental Health Ministries for the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA. As Director, she collaborates with an interdisciplinary team of experts in mental health, ministry, and theology to create resources that support the mental health needs of Orthodox Christians across the United States. As a psychotherapist, Sangeetha works with adults of diverse backgrounds who are healing from trauma, exploring multicultural identity and intergenerational trauma as children of immigrants, and learning to integrate their life experiences with their spiritual identity.
Time Stamps:
00:00 Speaker Introduction
01:07 Opening Thanks and Context
01:58 West Coast Asian American History
05:39 Why History Matters in Trauma
06:30 Three Types of Unresolved Rupture
08:45 Two Theological Truths
11:09 Dual Process Model Explained
14:04 Migration Loss and Family Impact
18:23 Building a Healthy Grief Narrative
20:29 Practical Tools for Healing
22:17 Community Responsibility to Grieve
23:42 Neuroplasticity and Hope Story
26:24 Christ Transforms Our Grief
27:56 Lamentation in Psalms and Gethsemane
30:01 Saint Mary and Holy Friday Laments
33:36 Perfect Love and Reconciliation
36:31 Kiss of Peace and Holy Week Silence
39:43 Paschal Peace as God’s Gift
43:38 Remembering God Through the Waters
45:51 Remembrance as Resistance and Love
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
