Counseling Survivors of Religious Abuse

Paula J. Swindle is Associate Professor of Counseling at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, NC, and has over 24 years of experience as a clinical mental health counselor and supervisor. She owns the Center for Healing Religious Harm, PLLC, which provides counseling and consultation services, and co-hosts the podcast "Sacred Intersections" which examines the intersection of mental health, religion, and religious abuse.Craig S. Cashwell is Professor in the Department of School Psychology and Counselor Education at William & Mary and an American Counseling Association (ACA) Fellow. Additionally, Craig maintains a part-time private practice focusing on couple counseling, addictions counseling, and spiritual and religious issues. He has over 150 publications, including five books, and has received multiple research awards.Jodi L. Tangen is Associate Professor and Program Coordinator at North Dakota State University. Her research interests center on counselor education, spirituality, and teacher and counselor development. She is passionate about training counselors and enjoys teaching courses such as Counseling Techniques and Counseling Across the Lifespan. In her free time, she hangs out with her energetic little kids.

• Section I: Overview1 Integrating Spirituality in Counseling2 Defining Religious Abuse3 Common Experiences of Victims of Religious Abuse4 Assessing Religious Abuse5 Characteristics of Healthy and Harmful Religious Systems6 Common Victim PopulationsSection II: Ethics7 Ethical Principles in Treatment of Religious Abuse8 Application of Ethics in Treating Religious AbuseSection III: Treatment Approaches9 The Importance of a Trauma-Informed Approach10 The Healing Process11 Interventions for Religious Abuse12 Supervision and Consultation13 Summary