Dr. Theresa Burke is the Founder of Rachel’s Vineyard – the largest post abortion ministry in the world. Her healing programs offer a unique sensory based treatment which integrates emotional, psychological and spiritual dimensions. The healing journey uses creative “Living Scripture Exercises,” and rituals which engage the mind, body, and soul. The Living Scriptures coupled with group activities, prayer, therapeutic facilitation, cognitive restructuring and discussions offer an effective process for grief work grounded in Jesus Christ and the Word of God.
This distinct program provides an exceptional and effective recovery process
for victims of trauma and those who have spent years in talk therapy, but still
struggle to move beyond their traumatic experience. In the past 12 years, the
Rachel’s Vineyard model has spread to 46 states and to 35 countries. The
Rachel’s Vineyard retreat is currently offered in 10 languages, with another 5
translations in progress. Rachel’s Vineyard is a ministry of Priests for
Life/Gospel of Life Ministries.
Theresa has facilitated the Rachel’s Vineyard weekend for women and men
throughout the country, training retreat teams in the method and process.
She has lectured and trained professionals internationally on the subject of
post-abortion trauma and healing. Her books include Forbidden Grief - The
Unspoken Pain of Abortion with David C. Reardon (Acorn Books), The Contraception
of Grief – The Genesis of Anguish Conceived by Abortifacients and Sterilization
and Sharing the Heart of Christ, with Kevin Burke.
Forbidden Grief is also available in Spanish, “Duelo Prohibido: El Dolor No
Expresado del Aborto” and Russian, “Запрещенные слезы. О чем не рассказывают
женщины после аборта”.
Theresa also developed a five day program for healing sexual abuse entitled – Grief to Grace – Reclaiming the Gift of Human Dignity. This program has been used to address all forms of abuse, including sexual abuse from clergy and religious. Professionally crafted and doctrinally sound, Grief to Grace provides professional therapeutic staff and all treatment is based on a firm Christian foundation as well as sound medical and psychological principles and a perceptive understanding of trauma.
Her treatment programs are considered an intensive and uninterrupted “therapy
for the soul.” Theresa’s latest treatment model addresses the spiritual
and psychological trauma suffered by combat veterans. The program is entitled
Duty To Heal – Finding Peace and Wholeness for a Soldiers Heart.
Theresa serves as a Pastoral Associate of Priests for Life and for the newly
formed Apostolic Society, Missionaries of the Gospel of Life. She recently
presented as an expert for the 2011 Pontifical Academy of Life’s General
Assembly. Her topic was The Aftermath of Abortion: Data from Scientific
Literature.
Theresa is a frequent guest on EWTN and served as host of the television series
Making Abortion Rare. She has appeared on PBS, the Religion and Ethics
News Weekly, Focus on the Family, EWTN’s Defending Life with Fr. Frank Pavone,
Vatican Radio and television, and has been interviewed for numerous radio,
television, print magazine and news stories.
Theresa’s counseling work has focused on women’s issues, bereavement, pregnancy
loss, sexual abuse, eating disorders and anxiety management. She is the
co-administrator and founder of Covenant Family Resources, a licensed Children
and Youth Agency which supports couples as they build families through adoption.
Theresa and her husband ran Mother’s Home, a crisis pregnancy residence, which
provided housing and computer job training for women in crisis pregnancy and
their children.
Theresa holds an undergraduate degree in English Communications with a
concentration in social work. Theresa went on to Immaculata University to earn a
n M.A. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. She is a Nationally Certified
Psychologist, a Certified Diplomat of the American Psychotherapy Association, a
Licensed Professional Counselor, a Board Certified Clinical Psychotherapist, and
a Diplomat of the American Board of Forensic Counselors. She holds
membership in the Society for Catholic Social Scientists and the American
Association of Christian Counselors. Theresa is the proud mother of five
children.
Kevin is a licensed social worker and serves as the Associate Director of Rachel's Vineyard Ministries and as a Pastoral associate for Priests for Life.
Kevin is a graduate of the Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work. His presentations address the effects of abortion on men, couples, families, marriage and family issues, as well as servant leadership in Post-Abortion Healing. Kevin and his wife co-authored From Grief to Grace--A Retreat for Healing the Wounds of Sexual Abuse and Contemplating the Shroud: Meditations on the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus (Pauline Books and Media).
Kevin participates regularly in radio and print interviews doing numerous interviews for Zenit News Service and Focus on the Family. He has been a guest on EWTN and Fr. Frank Pavone's Program "Gospel of Life" on the Sky Angel Network. He has contributed to and authored articles on post-abortion healing and contraception.
Kevin formerly served as the administrator of Mother's Home, a crisis pregnancy residence that provides housing, computer training and programs for women and their children. Kevin also worked as a clinical social work supervisor for Catholic Social Services in Philadelphia.
Kevin and his wife Theresa have worked together in marriage and family counseling and established Covenant Family Resources, a licensed children and youth agency that supports couples as they build families through adoption. They also spent 15 years working in youth ministry. Their development of high school retreats and youth programs earned them the "Apostle to Youth Award", which recognized their contribution to the spiritual growth of teenagers in Philadelphia.
Kevin feels a special mission to reach out to men and couples, where past abortion greatly increases the risk of relational family dysfunction and divorce. He brings clients through the healing found in Rachel's Vineyard to achieve this goal. Kevin created the Men's Section of the International website www.RachelsVineyard.org.
Kevin's greatest blessing is his wife Theresa of twenty years and five wonderful children.