This week, we talk about the darker side of religious practices, exploring emotional, psychological, and even financial abuses that can occur in religious contexts. Join us as we discuss the process of deconstruction, the path to recovery, and the importance of a safe healing space. Whether you've faced religious trauma or are keen on understanding this uncharted area, this episode is a key resource.

This week, we invite counselor, teacher, researcher, and podcaster Paula Swindle to discuss the sensitive subject of religious trauma or when spirituality is weaponized instead of used as a healing tool. Swindle, who works at the Center for Healing Religious Harm, dives deep into the aspects of religious abuse and explains three broad categories of such trauma. She further highlights the importance of self-examination and transparency in her roles as a counselor, teacher, and podcaster.

00:00 Guest Quote

00:24 Opening Music

01:19 This Week's Topic

03:25 Introduction and Guest Background

04:07 Studying Religious Trauma

08:36 Understanding Religious Trauma

15:22 Counselor, Teacher, Podcaster - Navigating Power and Transparency

22:25 Final Thoughts

25:41 Recap

27:44 Closing Music

About our guest:

Paula Swindle is a licensed clinical mental health counselor in North Carolina who maintains a private practice called the Center for Healing Religious Harm. She is also an associate professor of counseling at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina, where she trains new counselors. Last but not least, she and her pastor co-host Sacred Intersections, a podcast about navigating the twisty roads of harmful theology, mental health, and religious abuse.

Find Paula Online

* https://www.sacredintersectionspodcast.com

* https://instagram.com/drpaulaswindle

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