Pastors and Counseling

Diary of a Therapist

Mixing the spiritual with the clinical in mental health can be a complex issue. The increasing trend of spiritual abuse within the church is additionally alarming. Leaders are taking advantage of their position to control and manipulate congregants seeking counseling through the organization. Spiritual abuse involves using religion or spirituality to control, distort, or exploit. Common forms include controlling behavior, shaming tactics, and manipulation of scripture. In this explosive episode, Dr. Reid and Jessica explore the thin line between being a pastor and counseling people.