Spiritual Wounding & Healing

Welcome to Reflections on the Spiritual Life

Here you will find articles on spiritual direction, psychology and spirituality, contemplative practice, and the deeper movements of the spiritual life. Drawing on decades of experience in psychospiritual work and spiritual accompaniment, these reflections explore common themes such as shadow material, prayer struggles, images of God, dreamwork, and the emotional dynamics that shape our spiritual journey.

Whether you are seeking support in your own inner life or resources for spiritual direction practice,

I hope these writings offer clarity, depth, and encouragement.

Two cartoon figures, one with hands on face saying "I've never seen spiritual abuse," the other surprised, saying "I've never heard about it!"

Healing Spiritual Abuse & Church Hurt

Since my first article on spiritual abuse , I have been surprised and saddened by just how many people have contacted me who have experienced forms of spiritual abuse and church hurt. Yet, it is an issue that many still deny as being real in our church and faith communities; awareness is only beginning to dawn. And, as that level of awareness about spiritual abuse continues to grow, there will be increasing numbers of people who recognise themselves as being affected. In thi

Abstract painting of a swirling head amidst colorful, geometric patterns. The vibrant palette includes red, blue, yellow, and green and represents the difficult strong swirling emotions evoked inside us by spiritual abuse

Spiritual Abuse

This article was first written in early 2016, when spiritual abuse was rarely named or understood in the UK. At that time, survivors often lacked language, validation, or frameworks to make sense of what they had experienced. While much excellent work has since emerged, I keep this piece as a foundational overview of the dynamics involved — particularly for those encountering the term for the first time. What Is Spiritual Abuse? Spiritual abuse is a much under discussed subje