Spiritual Abuse, Trauma & PTSD in the Church | A Christian Therapist Explains

Can church experiences cause real trauma?
What is spiritual abuse?
And how should Christians think about PTSD, anxiety, trauma, therapy, and healing?

In this episode of the Determine Truth Podcast, we sit down with licensed marriage and family therapist Eric Winton to discuss the growing conversation surrounding church trauma, spiritual abuse, PTSD, complex trauma, anxiety, and mental health within Christian spaces.

Eric brings both clinical expertise and years of pastoral ministry experience to this conversation as we explore:

What trauma actually is
The difference between PTSD and complex PTSD
Spiritual abuse and “spiritual bypassing”
Why overspiritualizing pain can cause harm
How churches unintentionally retraumatize people
Biblical counseling vs clinical therapy
Why some people no longer feel safe in church
The role of empathy, wisdom, and healing in Christian communities

This episode is honest, compassionate, and deeply important for pastors, church leaders, ministry workers, counselors, and anyone navigating spiritual hurt or trauma.

Guest: Eric Winton, LMFT
Follow Eric: @EricWintonCounseling

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Great Resources on the topic of Creating Healthy Churches

Documentary
https://www.forourdaughtersfilm.com/

GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in a Christian Environment)
https://www.netgrace.org/

A Church Called Tov (Scot McKnight)
https://www.amazon.com/Church-Called-Tov-Goodness-Promotes/dp/1496446003/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4lBAQzf3oJglpTj_7R8NbAeOg0H2oH4CTgx81Cm9okZZVtD9VFcS1uSUfVV2EQm5KZL1himBpHsyFB4D_Gifo4cf1QusTB-POg2TVGG7LdGmQvQa0IB928VE-Lzebn0QaYbWTVGVFLpXeUIBI_xAwisMWdvmpzjWJxaEPeX_KDzkLcEidFqxV9x2KN137nu9_VqW_lpT5_tSt6oq8-Jdy9yqaU0SHRxzumNuhx47RWQ.FqeuaDuA2RxUSi8NLD1Eu9aVNCvxijZDHQxchJMDJm0&qid=1772398542&sr=8-1

Something's Not Right: Decoding the Hidden Tactics of Abuse--and Freeing Yourself from Its Power (Wade Mullens)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1496444701/ref=mes-dp?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=DfllH&content-id=amzn1.sym.476b1b7d-c787-4147-8a3c-fdef209103a1&pf_rd_p=476b1b7d-c787-4147-8a3c-fdef209103a1&pf_rd_r=0KK0SC6CEWNJ2Q64975X&pd_rd_wg=GCNhP&pd_rd_r=79c691b9-0dac-456b-bda2-afdb8d5268e5

When Narcissism Comes to Church (Chuck DeGroat)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1514005093/ref=mes-dp?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=zdSwU&content-id=amzn1.sym.476b1b7d-c787-4147-8a3c-fdef209103a1&pf_rd_p=476b1b7d-c787-4147-8a3c-fdef209103a1&pf_rd_r=WKKWWGSF6Y2GYRHQ8926&pd_rd_wg=mFZQA&pd_rd_r=a6182de3-e16f-4416-9ef7-e30aa5043369

When the Church Harms God’s People (Diane Langberg)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1587436450/ref=mes-dp?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=uVPPK&content-id=amzn1.sym.476b1b7d-c787-4147-8a3c-fdef209103a1&pf_rd_p=476b1b7d-c787-4147-8a3c-fdef209103a1&pf_rd_r=CAM1FBFN0J7Y0RS0HF0V&pd_rd_wg=KaJ0d&pd_rd_r=a0246e35-7d3f-4feb-89db-facae6fa4a8a

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Music: “Love is Against the Grain” (Dime Store Prophets)

#megachuch #churchgrowth #churchhurt #abuse #trauma #deconstruction #exvangelical #thechurch #ecclesiology #Fellowship #Mutual encouragement #Service #Corporateworship #pastors #authority #housechurch 

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