Spiritual abuse is an often-overlooked yet profoundly damaging form of harm that occurs within faith communities. This article explores the complex dynamics of spiritual abuse, offering insight into how to recognize its signs, recover from its trauma, and implement safeguards to prevent it in Christian communities.

Attachment theory, which explains how early relationships shape trust and connection, can also provide valuable insights into our relationship with God. Understanding this connection helps us deepen our faith and heal relational wounds. Whether through self-reflection, counselling, or contemplative practices, the journey toward secure attachment with God is worth the effort.

Relationships are a huge part of our daily lives. It is impossible to live in complete isolation from other people. In fact, much of the research suggests our health depends on these social connections. In this week’s blog post, I share some highlights from the research on how relationships impact all areas of our health: psychological, physical, and even spiritual health.

For the most part, I’m an open book and feel comfortable sharing my thoughts and life experiences. But when it came to writing a blog post discussing my faith and spirituality, this gave me pause—not because I’m uncertain of my convictions, but because of the legacy and reputation attached to the terms “Christian” and “Christian counselling.”

I’ll be as clear as possible about what I believe and what I mean when I use the term “Christian counsellor” …