Have you wondered why so many keep saying they have been spiritually abused, and yet you wonder what spiritual abuse even is?

Dr. Karen Roudkovski shares her research in her latest book on spiritual abuse and the toll it takes on various types of people and in many types of spiritual spaces even outside of religious houses of worship.

Unlock the unexpected truth about spiritual abuse with a licensed therapist who has personally experienced it. Dive deep into the surprising insights and shocking realities of spiritual abuse and how it could happen to anyone, even in unexpected places. Don't miss the exclusive interview where she reveals why the statement "This would never happen to me" is a dangerous assumption. Get ready to be blown away by the eye-opening revelations about spiritual abuse and its impact. Stay tuned for the jaw-dropping truth that will change the way you view spiritual abuse forever.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Understand the signs and dynamics of spiritual abuse within religious environments to protect yourself and others.


• Discover the profound impact of spiritual abuse on mental health and well-being, gaining insights into its lasting effects.


• Explore the role of therapy in the journey of recovering from spiritual abuse, learning about effective healing strategies.


• Access valuable spiritual abuse assessment tools to gain clarity and validation on your experiences.


• Navigate the complexities of workplace abuse within church settings, gaining awareness and empowerment to address these issues.

Our special guest is:

Dr. Karen Roudkovski earned the Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees, in addition to a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and counseling professor. Dr. Roudkovski is the author of Understanding Spiritual Abuse: What it Is and How to Respond, Spiritual Abuse Assessment: A Tool for Survivors and Their Helpers which released on 8/1/24. She is the author of the forthcoming Spiritual Abuse Recovery Workbook: Engaging Faith in Healing. She is also the co-author of a forthcoming book entitled Counseling through the Storm, on the topic of crisis counseling in ministry and is currently writing a book on the topic of anxiety.

EPS with grounding techniques with Dr. Debbie Pinkston

EPS with Dr. Wade Mullen on Spiritual Abuse

EPS with Dr. Diane Langberg on Spiritual Abuse

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:02 - Introduction to Spiritual Abuse

00:01:40 - Trigger Warning and Grounding Techniques

00:05:49 - Defining Spiritual Abuse

00:08:20 - Writing the Book on Spiritual Abuse

00:15:00 - Minimization of Spiritual Abuse

00:16:12 - Damaging Effects of Spiritual Abuse

00:16:53 - Grooming and Spiritual Abuse

00:18:20 - Idealized Leadership and Hierarchical Structures

00:19:52 - Power Dynamics in Mega Churches

00:31:15 - Areas of Control in Spiritual Abuse

00:32:42 - Importance of Acceptance and Unrealistic Expectations

00:34:03 - Forms of Spiritual Abuse

00:36:14 - Isolation and Control

00:39:19 - Spiritual Abuse of Church Leaders

00:46:43 - Prevalence of Spiritual Abuse in Southern Baptist Ministers

00:47:20 - Qualitative Study on Associate Pastors' Experiences

00:48:09 - Denial of Spiritual Abuse

00:48:48 - Making Churches Safer

00:50:13 - Where to Find Karen Roudkovski

00:51:35 - Impact of Spiritual Abuse

01:01:36 - Appreciation for the Global Audience

01:02:10 - Importance of Reviews and Sharing

01:02:49 - Making a Difference 

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