This is a weekly post that highlights resources from other counselors that I have found helpful. The counselors may be from the biblical counseling, Christian psychology, integration, or secular counseling traditions. By linking to a post, I am not giving it my full endorsement, I am merely indicating that I believe it made a unique contribution or raised an important subject for consideration.
In light of the current discussion on wise, godly counsel in cases of domestic abuse, I am constructing this “Council of Counselors” post differently. Below is a collection of helpful articles on counseling and pastoral care for abuse.
- Leslie Vernick‘s blog contains many excellent books and articles including
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month (Catalog of 30 posts and videos)
- Does God Want Me to Submit to Mistreatment According to 1 Peter 3?
- The Emotionally Destructive Marriage (Video Series)
- The Emotionally Destructive Relationship (PDF Assessment)
- 3 Ways to Bring More Clarity to Our Domestic Violence Responses by Chris Moles
- The books and blogs of Diane Langberg on abuse and suffering.
- Mending the Soul book and blog site by Dr. Steven R. Tracy
- 4 Myths about Responding to Spousal Abuse by Bruce Ashford, J.D. Greear, and Brad Hambrick
- “What Pastors Can Do about Violence in the Home” by Justin Holcomb
- “3 Things to Say to Victims of Domestic Abuse” by Suzanne Yonker
Below is a collection of articles from bradhambrick.com on counseling and pastoral care for abuse.
- How to Develop a Safety Plan for Domestic Violence
- “Counseling Triage: Where to Begin with Complex Struggles”
- Series: Marriage with a Chronically Self-Centered Spouse
- Manipulative Repentance: 8 Red Flag Phrases
- We Are Equally Sinful. We Are Not All Equally Broken or Toxic.
- Why We Should Always Teach Romans 13 with Romans 12
- Four Principles for Thinking Well about Boundaries
- Video: How Do We, as a Small Group, Walk Well with Someone Considering Divorce Because of Adultery or Abuse?
- Video: If I Learn of Abuse When Am I Mandated to Report and What Should I Do Even When I’m Not Mandated to Report?
What I’m Reading
Is It My Fault? by Justin and Lindsey Holcomb is a message of hope and healing to victims who know too well the depths of destruction and the overwhelming reality of domestic violence.
At least one in every three women have been beaten, coerced into sex, or abused in their lifetime. The effects of domestic violence are physical, social, emotional, psychological, and spiritual, and can have long-lasting distressing consequences. It is common for victims of domestic violence to suffer from ongoing depression and recurring nightmares, self-harm, panic attacks, substance abuse, and more.
Is It My Fault? addresses the abysmal issue of domestic violence with the powerful and transforming biblical message of grace and redemption. It deals with this devastating problem and sin honestly and directly without hiding its prevalence today.
Tweets of the Week
Any physical abuse on any level is completely unacceptable in a marriage. The church should immediately step in & provide a safe place for the abused. This has been my consistent counsel my entire ministry. Any counsel to the contrary is unwise & even dangerous.
— Daniel Akin (@DannyAkin) May 1, 2018
Any abuse that a husband perpetrates against his wife is sin, not only against her, but against a holy God.
Any pastor who sends a wife home knowingly to an abusive husband sins against a holy God.
— Diane Langberg, PhD (@DianeLangberg) May 1, 2018
Meaningful Meme