Spiritual Community and Cult Abuse Resources

These are not sponsored links—just trusted, meaningful spaces that many survivors have found helpful.

Professional Therapy & Directories

1. Reclamation Collective Clinician Directory

Trauma-informed, spiritual-abuse-aware therapists searchable by location, insurance, faith background, and lived experience.

2. Resolve Behavioral Health Services

Individual therapy support for spiritual abuse recovery using trauma-sensitive modalities like EMDR and DBT.

3. Inclusive Therapists

Identity-affirming and culturally aware therapists. Great for survivors looking for inclusive mental health support.

4. Soul Wisdom Therapy

Individual and group therapy, plus coaching for those considering leaving or who have left a spiritual/religious community due to abuse. Also offers mediation for spiritual leaders and past or present followers to help survivors feel heard and understood.

Peer & Group Support

1. Tears of Eden

A safe, non-religious space with support groups and survivor stories. Offers a 4-week trauma education class + private online recovery community.

2. Reclamation Collective Support Groups

Virtual support groups for women+, LGBTQ+ survivors, clinicians, and more.

3. Faith and Abuse (Survivors Voices)

Peer-led support group for survivors harmed in faith settings. Also partners with Recovering from Religion for virtual and in-person groups, weekly Zoom meetups, a 24/7 helpline, and online chat.

4. Soul Wisdom Therapy Groups

In association with the Association for Spiritual Integrity, offers therapy support groups for those who have left or are considering leaving an abusive spiritual community or cult.

Self-Paced Learning & Education

1. Spiritual Abuse Recovery Guide (Logos)

A practical 3-step framework: Notice → Name → Navigate.

2. 46 Resources on Spiritual Abuse (RPM Ministries)

A large collection of healing tools and perspectives for survivors.

3. Robin Recovery Blog

Insightful survivor articles, including “9 Signs of Spiritual Abuse and How to Heal.”

Community-Based Support & Healing Spaces

1. Reclamation Collective

Virtual groups for survivors of religious trauma/spiritual abuse (organized by identity) plus a searchable clinician directory.

2. Tears of Eden

Compassionate community + resources, with trauma education classes and ongoing peer groups.

3. Sacred Wilderness

Storytelling, education, and resources for people harmed in Christian spaces. Includes a survivor-led podcast.

4. Faith and Abuse (Survivors Voices)

Peer-support group fostering safe survivor sharing and emotional support.

Therapy & Clinician-Focused Resources

1. Resolve Behavioral Health Services

Individual therapy and therapeutic supervision for those navigating spiritual abuse.

2. Practical Recovery Framework (Brian Lee via Logos)

Outlines Notice → Name → Navigate as a healing framework.

3. Soul Wisdom Therapy

Individual and group therapy, mediation, and coaching for those harmed by cultic or spiritual organizations.

Informational & Educational Platforms

1. ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association)

Spiritual Abuse resources, conferences, recovery materials, and videos.

2. RPM Ministries

Blog post: 46 Resources on Spiritual Abuse — broad collection of tools and insights.

Videos: Surviving Spiritual & Religious Abuse

1. Step-by-Step Recovery Strategies

A practical, step-by-step video grounded in healing strategies for those recovering from spiritually abusive or controlling religious groups.

2. Joe Szimhart: Cult Recovery Insights

Joe Szimhart shares both professional and personal insights from having been in, and helped many others leave, cultic environments.

3. Healing Through Self-Compassion

A presentation emphasizing self-compassion as central to recovery — a nurturing resource for anyone emerging from spiritual or cultic trauma.

4. Why You Could Be Vulnerable To A Cult | Ashley Easter

Offers insight into common vulnerabilities to manipulative groups, helping viewers understand how anyone — regardless of background — can be targeted.

5. Cult Chat Episode 64 – The Rewards of Leaving a Cult

Highlights survivor voices on positive transformations and life beyond high-control environments.

6. Religious Abuse and Cults – Childhood Trauma

Focuses on spiritual abuse and its long-term impact when rooted in childhood experiences.

7. Former Cult Members: Recovery Issues (Playlist)

A comprehensive playlist covering diverse topics around indoctrination, recovery, and trauma.

Documentary & Media Recommendations

1. Sons of Perdition (2010)

Follows teenagers who leave the FLDS community.

2. Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006)

PBS American Experience documentary.

3. Deprogrammed (2015)

Examines the controversial practice of deprogramming cult members.

4. Children of God: Lost and Found (2007)

A personal story of growing up in the Children of God cult.

5. Wild Wild Country (2018)

Netflix docuseries about the Rajneesh (Osho) movement in Oregon.

6. The Vow (2020–2022)

HBO series on NXIVM, its leaders, and the experiences of survivors.

7. Cults and Extreme Belief

A&E documentary series hosted by Elizabeth Vargas, exploring real stories of cult involvement and recovery.

More Support Organizations & Services

1. People Leave Cults

Video library, groups, intervention services.

2. Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center (Ohio)

Specialized residential counseling for religious/cult trauma.

3. The Family Survival Trust (UK)

Information, resources, and online support for families.

4. Decult Conference

International conference uniting survivors, clinicians, and researchers.

Podcasts

1. Speaking of Cults

A thoughtful weekly show hosted by Chris Shelton. Explores cult recruitment, coercive control, recovery, and extremist movements.

2. The Cult Vault – Broken Trust: Spiritual Abuse and How to Recover

Host Kacey interviews Remy, a former pastor and author, unpacking toxic faith, spiritual abuse, and recovery with compassion and practical steps.

3. Religious Trauma & Cult Abuse Recovery

Explores healing from religious and cult abuse, including trauma recovery, shame, and peer support.

4. Religion Rehab

A supportive podcast with interviews and resources for survivors of religious abuse and spiritual tyranny.

5. Uncertain (Tears of Eden Podcast)

Trauma recovery coaches discuss how early trauma shapes church abuse experiences, with practical healing strategies.

6. The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill

A podcast documenting the rise and collapse of Mars Hill Church and its leader, Mark Driscoll.

7. Heaven’s Gate

A 10-part documentary podcast exploring the Heaven’s Gate cult.

8. A Little Bit Culty

Hosted by Sarah Edmondson and Nippy Ames, this podcast covers cult dynamics, coercive control, and recovery.

9. Cultish

A podcast from Apologia Studios examining cults, fringe movements, and spiritual manipulation.

10. Let’s Talk About Sects

Award-winning podcast by Sarah Steel, with deep investigations into cults and high-control groups.

11. Sounds Like a Cult

A witty podcast exploring modern “cult-like” groups, from MLMs to wellness culture.

Podcast Highlights (Summary Table)