- Recognize spiritual abuse and how it impacts personal well-being
- Identify red flags and warning signs in religious environments
- Explore constructive ways to navigate the narcissistic abuse crisis
- Discover a spiritual path forward for coping with a spiritual crisis
- Learn about sources of hope, healing, and consolation
Course Plan:
Week 1: Naming Spiritual Abuse
- Discover clear language to break the silence around spiritual abuse
- Define spiritual abuse in both religious contexts and interpersonal relationships
- Explore the dynamics of power, authority, and manipulation within spiritual and relational frameworks
Week 2: Discerning Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing
- Identify key signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships
- Learn to recognize red flags that indicate spiritual abuse
- Understand the foundational principles of discernment
- Distinguish between true obedience and coerced submission
Week 3:Â Imago Dei: Dignity & Freedom
- Learn about the dignity of human life on the basis of JPII’s “Theology of the Body”
- Review Catholic principles of formation and autonomy
- Understand how abuse violates human dignity, freedom and conscience
Week 4:Â Trauma-Aware & Christ-Centered Care
- Name the trauma caused by spiritual abuse
- Explore how the Church can and should offer trauma-informed care
- Respond to wounds with wisdom, compassion, and Christ-centered care
Week 5:Â Breaking Free into the Light
- Review the roadmap leading out of toxic spiritual environments
- Affirm the right to leave or disengage from abuse
- Discern healthy spiritual leadership
Week 6:Â Behold, I Make All Things New
- Explore ways to reclaim your sense of self & the true image of God
- Seek an accurate understanding of co-redemptive suffering
- Envision a healthy spiritual future for the Church
This educational course is an invitation — to see what has been hidden, to listen to those who have been silenced, and to move with hope toward healing, justice, and renewal in the Body of Christ.