Research Topics
1. The Effect that Spiritual Abuse in Churches has on the Abuse Survivor’s Prayer Life
2. What Prayer Types Helped the Survivor Before the Abuse, During the Abuse, and/or After the Abuse Leading to Transformation
A Note from the Researcher:
Spiritual abuse “is the complex experience of dis-empowerment and disconnection from what is considered sacred through mistreatment by someone in a position of spiritual power or authority” (Stratton p. iii).
I am a retired Episcopal Priest, a spiritual abuse survivor, and a creative writer. I’m in the process of writing a book on the twin topics of (1) the effect that spiritual abuse in churches has on the abuse survivor’s prayer life and (2) what kinds of prayer helped abuse survivors before, during, and after the abuse, possibly leading to a spiritual transformation.
My research is focused on prayer and transformational elements of healing from spiritual abuse. This means that I am studying the use of prayer in healing as transformation. I am looking for people who have had this experience as a process over time. Your sharing of your personal experience has the potential to benefit others who have undergone a similar experience by helping them to understand and integrate their trauma into a more creative and whole way of life.
Those who are interested will participate in a preliminary 20-minute phone conversation with me to determine whether each person is a good fit for the study. Participation is voluntary and your personal information will be kept confidential. Information from the preliminary conversation may be used in the book that I am writing, or in any future such works. In the case that I do use any such information, each participant will be asked to create a pseudonym for themselves, as your real name will not be used.
Please get in touch with me if you fall into the following categories:
l. You self-identify as having experienced spiritual abuse as an adult
2. You are a mentally healthy adult (feels emotionally regulated and able to adapt to life’s challenges)
3. You have an interest in sharing your spiritual abuse experience
4. You are no longer actively involved in the abuse experience
5. You have an active prayer life
Thank you for your interest and your participation in the phone conversation. Please feel free to share this request, if you know of anyone else who has experienced spiritual abuse.
In respect and gratitude,
Dorothy Gremillion
email: reverendorothy@proton.me
Stratton, Courtney. “Healing from Spiritual Abuse as a Process of Transformation.” A PhD Dissertation published at Sofia University, Palo Alto, CA, 2022.