Gravity Commons Podcast Hillary McBride: Understanding Spiritual Trauma and the Process of Healing
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Oct 14, 2025 Hillary McBride, a registered psychologist and author of *Holy Hurt*, delves into the complexities of spiritual trauma and its profound effects on individuals. She passionately defines spiritual trauma, addressing how religious settings can unintentionally inflict harm. McBride highlights the importance of emotional healing and reconnecting with one's feelings. The conversation also emphasizes practical ways to support others in their pain and the need for diverse voices in healing, shedding light on the intricate links between trauma, grief, and spirituality.
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When Spiritual Language Becomes Weaponized
- People often weaponize defenses and spiritual language to avoid and redirect pain onto others.
- Parsing defensive spiritualizing from genuine spiritual practices is essential for healing.
Use Spirituality To Face Pain
- Turn spirituality toward the pain instead of away from it by naming and being with harm when ready.
- Choose agency and self-determination when engaging spiritual practices for healing.
Validation Closes The Trauma Wound
- Being seen, believed, and held after trauma tells the nervous system the danger is over and allows recovery.
- The injury compounds when the original trauma is followed by being not met or validated.
