Spiritual Abuse Recovery Counseling
Pathways Counseling offers online counseling for people recovering from spiritual abuse, church hurt and high-control religious environments. Sessions are with Dr. Jeremy Van Dyken, held over Zoom in English, for clients around the world. You are welcome whether your faith is still central to you, shaken, or no longer part of your life.
If you're not sure whether what happened to you was spiritual abuse, you don't need to be sure before reaching out. Our page Understanding Spiritual Abuse and our article What Is Spiritual Abuse? are a good place to start.
What people often bring to counseling
Fear, shame or guilt that comes back when they pray, read Scripture or walk into a church
Grief over a lost community, lost friendships, or strained family relationships
Difficulty trusting leaders, churches, or their own judgment
Questions about God and faith they haven't felt safe asking anywhere else
Anxiety or depression that began or deepened in a high-control environment
Trying to make sense of what happened while still attending the church where it happened
How counseling can help
Recovery from spiritual abuse is rarely quick, and it doesn't follow a script. Counseling at Pathways moves at your pace. Depending on what you are carrying, it may include:
Naming what happened, clearly and without minimizing it
Separating God from the people who misused his name
Grieving what was lost
Rebuilding trust, boundaries and confidence in your own judgment
Deciding for yourself, without pressure, what faith and church will look like for you now
Faith, at your pace
For many Christians who have been spiritually abused, faith is still central, even when it hurts. With those clients, a session may explore how Jesus himself was abused in God's name, and how that holds people who have been harmed the same way. Our article He Was Abused in God's Name Too explores this.
For others, faith is too painful to talk about right now, or is no longer part of their life. That is respected. No one at Pathways will tell you your suffering is a result of weak faith, or pressure you toward any particular outcome.
Why Pathways
Dr. Van Dyken's work on abuse in churches began in the Middle East, where he helped churches develop ways to both prevent abuse and respond to it. He writes and teaches on spiritual abuse and high-control religion, including What Is High-Control Religion? and What Is Legalism? Read more about Our Approach to Counseling and Dr. Van Dyken's Background.
What to know before you begin
Pathways is not a crisis service. If you are in danger or thinking of harming yourself, contact your local emergency services or a crisis line right away.
We use clinical counseling methods but do not provide formal diagnosis or medication. When a concern needs licensed clinical care, we will refer you.
What you share stays private, with a few exceptions explained on our Our Approach page.
Questions people ask
Do I have to still be a Christian? No. Pathways welcomes people of every belief, including those who have left the faith. Sessions focus on what you are facing, with respect for your own convictions.
Can I come if I'm still in the church where it happened? Yes. Many people begin counseling while they are still deciding what to do.
What does it cost? Sessions are $100 USD each, or $400 USD for five paid in advance. See Fees & Cancellation Policy.