Breaking Free: Healing from Childhood Abuse, Cult Trauma, and Restoring the Heart”

About this episode

Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch shares her journey of healing from childhood abuse and cult trauma, emphasizing the power of storytelling and faith.

Nuggets of Wisdom * “It all comes down to the fact that I am a redeemed, transformed…woman.” * “When you tell your story, there is something that happens in your healing.” * “God can come in and change [your] story.” * “Let others help you.” * “Surround yourself with worship.” * “Don’t listen to the lies of the Enemy.” * “Hold the hem of Jesus—hold it tight.” Author Bio Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch is the Founder/CEO of Altered Stories Ministry and Podcast Host of the Altered Stories Show. She is the author of “The Story Within You: The Healing Power of Your Story” a 30 day healing memoir devotional. Mischelle is a wife, mother to her adult daughter, Gigi, dog mom, speaker, ministry and business leader and is passionate about helping women everywhere share their God stories to help women overcome their struggles. The call on her life to help women share their authentic stories stems from her experience of emotional healing that resulted when sharing her childhood cult survival story with others and seeing how her story affected those who heard it. Mischelle highly enjoys serving in Women’s Ministry volunteer roles and facilitates Altered Stories Ministry Women at the Well: Our…

People in this episode

Host: Tammy Kennington

Guest: Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch

Topics covered

• childhood abuse
• cult trauma
• healing
• faith
• storytelling
• women's ministry

Keywords

• healing
• childhood trauma
• cult survival
• faith
• women's stories
• spiritual growth

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Altered Stories Ministry

Books & works: The Story Within You: The Healing Power of Your Story

More episodes of From Hardship to Hope

• From Victim to Victor: Finding Healing and Hope Through Jesus Christ · May 28, 2026 · 21 min
• When God Allows Suffering: The Transformative Power of Loss · May 14, 2026 · 27 min
• Holding On When It Hurts: A Story of Faith and Hope · April 16, 2026 · 30 min
• The Journey Through Grief: Strategies for Healing Amidst Loss · March 19, 2026 · 31 min
• Never Alone: Experiencing God's Nearness in Pain · March 5, 2026 · 30 min
• The Unseen Fight: Faith, Feelings, and Mental Wellness · February 12, 2026 · 29 min