Full Interview: Dr. Paula Swindle

Full Interview: Dr. Paula Swindle

From Spoiled Fruit: Faith & Power by John Williamson

June 19, 2025 · 58 min · Season 1

About this episode

Dr. Paula Swindle discusses the impact of spiritual abuse and the challenges faced by survivors within religious systems.

In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, Dr. Paula Swindle helps us put words to the pain many have experienced but struggled to name. A scholar, psychologist, and trauma-informed spiritual care provider, Dr. Swindle brings deep insight into how religious systems - like Vineyard USA - can engage in spiritual bypass, silence dissent, and retraumatize survivors in the name of unity or divine authority. We talk about how spiritual abuse often masquerades as "pastoral care," why some institutions confuse conflict avoidance with peacekeeping, and how survivors are often labeled as "gossips" or "divisive" simply for telling the truth. If you've ever been made to feel like you're the problem for questioning abusive systems - this conversation is for you. Guest Bio: Paula Swindle is a licensed clinical mental health counselor/supervisor, an associate professor of counseling and the Hickory campus program coordinator for the counseling program. Swindle’s more than 24 years of clinical work includes founding and providing counseling and consultation through the Center for Healing Religious Harm, youth and family therapy, private practice, inpatient and partial psychiatric services…

People in this episode

Guest: Dr Paula Swindle

Topics covered

  • spiritual abuse
  • trauma-informed care
  • religious systems
  • psychology
  • mental health

Keywords

  • spiritual bypass
  • pastoral care
  • conflict avoidance
  • survivor experiences

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Center for Healing Religious Harm

Books & works: Sacred Intersections

Places: North Carolina

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