Mending the Soul, Second Edition: Understanding and Healing Abuse
Mending the Soul

Mending the Soul, Second Edition: Understanding and Healing Abuse

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This book provides a well-researched biblical and scientific overview of abuse. A broad overview, it deals with the various types of abuse, the various effects of abuse, and the means of healing. Abuse can be sexual, physical, neglect, spiritual, and verbal. The chief arguments pursued throughout the book are:

(1) abuse is far more rampant than most Christians realize, but due to human depravity and satanic influence, widespread abuse is predicable.

(2) All types of abuse create profound, long-term soul damage due to the way abuse perverts various aspects of the image of God.

(3) God is the healing redeemer. Human salvation came through horrible physical abuse.

(4) Healing must take place in the context of relationships.

Humans are deeply impacted by others due to being made in the image of God. Just as surely as abusive relationships have tremendous power to wound the soul, so healthy relationships have tremendous power to nurture and heal the soul.

Questions answered in the book include:

How can a genuine believer abuse a child?
Why would someone abuse a child?
How can parents and children's workers identify abusers?
How can abuse victims heal?
What does genuine healing look like?
Is anger appropriate or hurtful for abuse victims?
Where does forgiveness fit in?

This second edition has been updated to reflect research conducted and published in the past 15 years on abuse and trauma. It accounts for the significant social changes and increased mental health struggles in our culture, including dramatic escalation in rates of depression, anxiety, suicide, and isolation, which exacerbate the effects of abuse and complicate the healing process. Based on their now-extensive trauma care experience, this new edition helps readers how to minister to new domestic and global victims such as sex trafficking survivors, foster children, refugees, and survivors of genocide. Examples and illustrations are updated with more recent ones from high-profile abuse cases and the aftermath of the #Me Too movement. The appendixes include lists of helpful resources for child protection policies, worker/parent child abuse education, warning signs of potential abusers, and general abuse resources (books, internet sites, and organizations) to equip ministry leaders are provided in appendices. Illustrations, case studies, and art therapy drawings.

Customer Reviews

Based on 16 reviews
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A
Amazon Customer
Book Unread

Unable to read as the size of font is very small. Sorry, I did not research this more.

S
Sam
Insightful

Insightful and eye opening book. Helped me work through my trauma and pathed a path for healing.

A
Amazon Customer
Helps heal

Very good read

M
Michael
Best Integration of Physical/Mental/Spirtual!

I used this book and workbook while attending a Mending the Soul group in 2023. This resource, by far, does the best of any resource I have seen up until now at integrating healing for all aspects of abuse effects: it addresses physical effects and why you have them (so you don't feel like you are going crazy!), but also delves deeply into all of the psychological and spiritual effects in a very balanced way. It uses current science and Scripture to help you make sense of the struggles you have, and how to become a healthier version of you! It helped me understand why I struggled so much with anger without feeling guilty for it and showed me how to reassign to the correct source all the guilt and shame I was feeling! I especially appreciated the chapter on forgiveness. I was apprehensive to read it at first because I was afraid it would be like the traditional toxic church teachings on "forgive and forget." But I was SO encouraged to learn about the different types of forgiveness, what forgiveness is and what it ISN'T, as well as how they name those old toxic teachings as being spiritually abusive. Wow - the healing I was able to receive was lifechanging. Even for those who aren't believers in the Christian faith, this book and workbook are an excellent, well-balanced approach to wholistic healing from the effects of any kind of abuse. I highly recommend going to their website at mendingthesoul.org to find a group meeting in your area rather than going it alone. The support was a vital part of the healing process for me!

A
Annette Renslow
Excellent book for those in the church who are not equipped for the trauma victims

Love the research and the heart of this book. ANYone who is in ANY position at ANY church that counsels ANYone SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!