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Religious trauma, church hurt & spiritual abuse

People searching for religious trauma may be trying to understand shame, control, a painful church experience, or the misuse of faith in a relationship. These conversations offer several perspectives without assuming what you should believe or whether you should stay in a faith community. Choose the interview that most closely reflects your question and listen at your own pace.

Conversations hosted by Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, QS.

A little context before you listen

What are examples of spiritual abuse?

Spiritual abuse can involve using beliefs, religious authority, or sacred texts to shame, manipulate, silence, or control another person. It can happen within a religious community or an intimate relationship. The episodes below explore different settings and personal experiences.

Learn more: National Domestic Violence Hotline: spiritual abuse.

Which conversation should I choose first?

For high-control religion, begin with Episode 66. For the use of Scripture to control others, choose Episode 58. Episode 126 discusses faith and shame in therapy, while Episode 90 is a personal account of spiritual and domestic abuse. These guides do not provide a religious-trauma test or diagnosis.

Where would you like to begin?

Episode 66

Leaving a high-control religious setting

Sowania Germain shares her experience of leaving a spiritually abusive church and her work as a therapist. The conversation includes cultural context, grief, faith, and questions about finding support after a controlling environment.

Original episode: Escaping Spiritual Abuse & Church Trauma: Healing After High-Control Religion w/ Sowania Germain, LMHC-D, PMHC

Listen to the episode →Read the transcript

Episode 58

When Scripture is used to control or silence

Rebecca Davis, author of the Untwisting Scriptures series, discusses the misuse of biblical language, shame, and spiritual bypassing. This brings an author’s perspective alongside the clinicians and personal accounts in the collection.

Original episode: Untwisting Spiritual Abuse: How Scripture Gets Weaponized—and How to Heal with Rebecca Davis, Author & Trauma-Informed Christian Book Coach

Listen to the episode →Read the transcript

Episode 126

Faith, shame, and identity in therapy

Vanessa Bentley, LPC-MHSP, discusses Christian therapy, spiritual abuse, religious performance, and identity. Start here if your question concerns the relationship between faith and a trauma-informed therapy conversation.

Original episode: Christian Therapy & Trauma Healing: Spiritual Abuse, Shame, and Identity in Christ with Vanessa Bentley, LPC-MHSP

Listen to the episode →Read the transcript

Episode 90

A personal account of spiritual and domestic abuse

Naghmeh Abedini Panahi shares her experience of abuse, public ministry, purity culture, and reclaiming her voice. This interview includes sensitive discussion of domestic violence. The separate domestic violence guide also links directly to support services.

Original episode: Christian Spiritual Abuse & Recovery: Story of Abuse, Purity Culture & Freedom

Listen to the episode →Read the transcript

Questions to take with you

  • Which experiences or questions do I want someone supporting me to understand?
  • What would respectful support look like without pressure about my beliefs?

These prompts are invitations to reflect, not a screening tool or a diagnosis.

Keep exploring the archive

The following episodes also mention religious trauma, church hurt, or spiritual abuse in their titles, show notes, or available transcripts. Some mentions are brief. They are additional places to explore after the featured interviews.

Browse 35 more episodes mentioning this topic

Search the archive for religious trauma →