Healing from Spiritual Abuse Resources

This is a small collection of helpful books, online articles, videos, and teachers that we’ve found to be healing and supportive, as well as enlightening about the subject of ethical behavior within Dharma groups. We hope that you will find something that touches and enriches you. And please share your suggestions in the comments section!

Free Books – download here.

Ford, Wendy_ Recovery from Abusive Groups
Herman_Trauma-and-Recovery 

Groups

https://familysurvivaltrust.org/

Therapists

http://www.alexandrastein.com/

Checklists

If you’re not sure if you were in an abusive group or not, try these checklists:
SPIRITUALLY_ABUSIVE_SYSTEMS
Emotional_Abuse_Checklist 
 Group_Psych_Abuse_Scale

Websites

Healing after your teacher crosses a line
The Five Stages Of Grief – https://www.psycom.net/depression.central.grief.html
Trauma Bonding
– https://www.abuseandrelationships.org/Content/Survivors/trauma_bonding.html
Communal Abuse & Relationships –https://www.abuseandrelationships.org/Content/Communal%20Abuse/communal_abuse.html
Traumatic Bonding Survivors – https://victimsofpsychopaths.wordpress.com/traumatic-bonding/
Teachers not Gods

​Resistence, Surrender and Karma

​How Will You See The Guru?

Trauma Bonding 

Emotional Attachments in Abusive Relationships: A Test of Traumatic Bonding Theory

Confronting Abuse: Be Proactive

​Guideline for Spiritually Abused Persons

​The Open Minds Foundation  A website with articles and other resources concerning undue coercion and manipulation.

​reFocus A support and referral organization for former members of high demand groups, relationships and cults

​Religious Trauma Syndrome

Journey Free – a group dedicated to helping people transition out of harmful religions, recover from trauma, and rebuild their lives

Ted Talks

Brene Brown – The Power Of Vulnerability
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o
Brene Brown – Listening To Shame
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psN1DORYYV0

Facebook

Beating Trauma
https://www.facebook.com/pg/BeatingTrauma/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1696112073746470

Books

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World – Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Douglas Abrams
https://www.amazon.com/Book-Joy-Lasting-Happiness-Changing/dp/0399185046/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499980552&sr=8-1&keywords=the+book+of+joy
Beyond Religion – His Holiness the Dalai Lama
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Religion-Ethics-Whole-World/dp/054784428X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499976005&sr=8-1&keywords=beyond+religion+dalai+lama
Confession of a Buddhist Atheist – Stephen Batchelor (Not at all like the title. Actually a good historical study on Buddhism, as well as very interesting details from his attendance at the conference in ‘93 with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.)
https://www.amazon.com/Confession-Buddhist-Atheist-Stephen-Batchelor/dp/0385527071/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499979865&sr=8-1&keywords=confessions+of+a+buddhist+atheist
Loving Kindness – Sharon Salzberg
https://www.amazon.com/Lovingkindness-Revolutionary-Happiness-Shambhala-Classics/dp/157062903X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499968130&sr=8-1&keywords=loving+kindness+sharon+salzberg
The Joy Diet – Martha Beck
https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Diet-Daily-Practices-Happier/dp/0609609904/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499968952&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Joy+Diet
The Mindful Path To Self Compassion – Christopher Germer, PhD
https://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Path-Self-Compassion-Yourself-Destructive/dp/1593859759/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499969049&sr=8-1&keywords=Mindful+Self+Compassion