Psycho Therapy

In our season finale, Dr. Kirk Honda, therapist and host of Psychology In Seattle, joins us to discuss the topic of harm in therapy. We talk about what therapy harm can look like, why it happens, and how clients and clinicians can better recognize and respond to it. Whether you’re in therapy, considering it, or working as a mental health professional, this conversation offers practical insight into a difficult but important subject.

Today’s guest is Carson Weitnauer, a former team member at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Carson joins me to talk about the open letter he wrote to Lori Anne Thompson a public apology for his role in enabling Ravi Zacharias and failing to see the truth sooner.In this conversation, we explore how powerful individuals often groom their supporters long before they ever groom their victims. Building credibility, loyalty, and layers of protection. Carson’s story is an example of what self-reflection, accountability, and repair can look like in the aftermath of abuse.Whether you’ve experienced betrayal by a trusted institution or just want to better understand how complicity can happen in good people, this episode offers insight, honesty, and hope.

In this raw and deeply moving interview, survivor Lori Anne Thompson shares her personal story of being groomed and abused by Ravi Zacharias. While their relationship wasn’t formally pastoral counseling, it carried many of the same power dynamics—spiritual authority, trust, and vulnerability. Lori Anne reflects on the factors in her life that made her more susceptible to abuse, the manipulative tactics used under the guise of faith, and the systems that enabled it. We also confront the church’s role in victim-blaming and explore what authentic healing looks like after betrayal by a spiritual leader.

This week, I’m joined by Julie Anne Smith, the voice behind The Spiritual Sounding Board, a blog dedicated to exposing church abuse and shedding light on the harmful effects of patriarchy, particularly for women. Julie Anne shares her personal experience with biblical counseling and how it left her feeling injured. Together, we explore the ways in which the church can perpetuate toxic dynamics and how we can work toward healing and accountability.

In today’s episode, we explore Biblical counseling — what it is, how it can help, and how it can harm. Our guest, Noelle, joins us to walk through the key principles, practices, and potential pitfalls.