Breaking the Silence on Spiritual Abuse

Spiritual abuse occurs when an individual, church or a belief system, whether well intentioned or not, dominates, manipulates or castigates individuals through fear tactics, mind control, or some other psychological or emotional abuse. Breaking the Silence of Spiritual Abuse provides the first sustained examination of spiritual abuse within the Christian faith, exploring the definitions and historical context of spiritual abuse while giving voice to survivors' stories of their personal experiences. Providing a balance of empirical research and practical concerns, this ground-breaking book outlines a process model for the different stages of spiritual abuse and includes strategies for therapists working with survivors of spiritual abuse.

Lisa Oakley is the Programme Leader for the Abuse Studies course at MMU Cheshire and is Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. Lisa has taught in Higher Education for over twenty years.

Kathryn Kinmond is a Chartered Psychologist and Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Abuse Studies. Kathryn is also an accredited counsellor working with people who have been abused.