Dr. Audrey Davidheiser

Audrey Davidheiser, MAT, PhD is a licensed psychologist in California, certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist, and an approved clinical consultant by the IFS Institute. She established Aim for Breakthrough to promote emotional wholeness for the body of Christ through psychotherapy and psychoeducation. Her practice is devoted to survivors of trauma, including church hurt and spiritual abuse. Dr. Davidheiser self-published a book reconciling faith and feelings. She has spoken at the annual IFS conference, churches and faith-based mental health conferences, and supported IFS trainings as a staff member. She founded and directed a counseling center for the Los Angeles Dream Center, trained future mental health professionals, and through it all, treated close to 2,200 trauma survivors. She is a frequent contributor to Crosswalk.com and iBelieve.com. Her book on how IFS helps the grieving process, Grieving Wholeheartedly: Bringing Healing for Every Part of Your Soul, will be published by InterVarsity Press in July 2025. In her scant spare time, Dr. Davidheiser enjoys reading Christian novels and watch testimonies of MBB (Muslim Background Believers). Her love for Indonesia—the world’s most populous Muslim nation, where she was born and bred—translates into a passion for Muslims to embrace the love of Christ. She and her husband, John, make Southern California their home.

Articles:

How to Face Milestone Dates After a Loss

As time progresses, new reasons to mourn may rap on your door. Birthdays, anniversaries, milestones, major holidays—even seemingly innocuous events may reignite sorrow. A veil of tears might distort your vision as your grandchild toddles around. If only my husband could see his latest grandchild learn to walk. Conversely, if your child died or went missing, the growth of other people’s kids might activate strong reactions. Consider revisiting this book then.   It is also helpful to face significant dates with a ritual. According to Drs. Evan Imber-Black and Janine Roberts, “when healing rituals have not occurred, or have been […]

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Befriending Our Loneliness in Grief

In a New Yorker article, Tad Friend quoted a psychiatrist who had ample experience with those who vaulted to their deaths from the Golden Gate bridge. The doctor singled out a case that especially moved him: “The guy was in his thirties, lived alone, pretty bare apartment. He’d written a note and left it on his bureau. It said, ‘I am going to walk to the bridge. If one person smiles at me on the way, I will not jump’” (Tad Friend, “Jumpers,” The New Yorker, October 5, 2003, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/10/13/jumpers).   Sadly, he jumped, which must mean nobody smiled at […]

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Why We React Differently to Grief

One reason grief is undesirable is the overwhelming soup of feelings it stirs up. Dr. Kenneth Doka, a prolific author and speaker on the subject of grief, explains it this way: “We rarely experience one dominant emotion at a time. We can feel depression, anger, disbelief all at once. We are a hive of emotions” (Kenneth J. Doka, Grief Is a Journey: Finding Your Path Through Loss). If his assessment feels intimidating, take a deep breath. Internal Family Systems (IFS) can help you tease apart one emotion from the next.   How? We can identify parts of our soul based […]

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Grief is Not a Neat Package

Grief is Not a Neat Package I hate grieving. There. I said it. A part of me did, actually. The part that abhors the tears I shed while writing this book. But I am not the only one with parts. Your soul comes prepackaged with them too. Have you noticed the maelstrom of reactions following your loss? Perhaps maintaining concentration has been hard, as your mind keeps slipping to memories of the deceased or fears about tomorrow. Your digestive system feels wonky. Reminders of your loss spur shame, guilt, perhaps even both. Maybe you avoid crying at all costs. These […]

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