I am delighted to say that my book has been published!
The title is: ‘Spiritual Abuse Recovery: Dynamic Research
on Finding a Place of Wholeness’.

I have books available. Book information can be found on my website: wwwchurchexiters.com.

People can contact me at: info@churchexiters.com.

Looking forward to hearing from many of you.

Dr. Barb

Thanks for your comment. Yes, in my Literature Review I cite Toxic Faith and a number of other books on spiritual abuse. Since this topic and recovery from it are very complex I review a number of books that are related to this topic area. I believe that people will be interested in this research project, the comments of the participants, and the theological and biblical foundations for this study.

The book ‘ChurchExiterx.com’ is getting closer to being published. I will let people know when the book is available. You can read summaries of the chapters as well as excerpts of the chapters by going to the website with this name. I will also keep people posted of the progress.

Talk to you later.
Bye for now, Dr. Barb

I am a Christian psychotherapist who has researched the literature to help folks who are having to deal with the aftermaths of spiritual abuse. You might mention to Barb, and your readers might like to know there is an excellent book in helping victims of spiritual abuse to process some of their betrayal and understanding of what happened to them and the role of each person involved in the abuse including those in authority who should have brought accountability to bear.

The book is Toxic Faith by Stephen Arterburn, first printed in 1991 and again printed in 2001. Toxic Faith dissects the whole sick system of the church in which such abuse is perpetrated even down to the role of the healthy members that try to bring accountability to bear but then are treated by the unhealthy “perpetrator,” “co-conspirators,” and “enablers” as “outcasts” as if they themselves are the sick ones.

Also, there is a psychologist whom I greatly respect who works with abused parishioner(s) as well as the perpetrator(s) and the denominational leadership of the sick church system to begin to treat all of the brokenness rampant in such sick systems. Her name is Diane Langberg, Ph.D. Diane is a psychologist with over 25 years experience, counseling in private practice in the Philadelphia suburbs. She is also the current chair of the executive board of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) headed up by Tim Clinton (president); AACC has a membership of over 50,000 members. Diane gave an excellent talk (which is available by CD through AACC) that explains the dynamics of many of our churches and the nature of their structure (hierarchies, expectations, etc.) that sets the pastor up for disaster. She also is engaged in speaking and lecturing on the realities of life in the ministry.

Thank you for printing this post Joel.

May God heal His abused lambs and cleanse the churches of “her officials within her (who) are like wolves tearing their prey.” (Ezekiel 22:27)

May God bless you,

Angie