Season 4, Episode 15: Therapist or Sexual Predator? How Do We Learn Who We Can Trust?

We tend to trust people who are in positions of power, or who hold down jobs that are service oriented like a doctor, a pastor, or a therapist. Amy Nordhues trusted her therapist. Everyone in her community loved him. Her friend raved about him. He was an elder at the church she was attending. Amy didn’t know it, but he was also very, very dangerous.

Our book this week is Preyed Upon: Breaking Free from Therapist Abuse and our guest is its author, Amy Nordhues. Amy is an author and speaker who hopes to use her experience both as a new Christian and as a victim of sexual abuse by a therapist/clergy to help, support and educate others. Through the telling of her very personal story she hopes to provide insight into the following: The inner workings of the abuse process of adult victims, how past childhood abuse can make an adult vulnerable to predators and so much more.

I do want to caution everyone that while we won’t be getting graphic, we will be discussing sexual abuse, and abuse by a trusted therapist. Please use your discretion about whether this is an episode that won’t trigger anything for you.

Luke 8:16-18

“Now no one lights a lamp and then covers it with a container [to hide it], or puts it under a bed; instead, he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come out into the open. So be careful how you listen; for whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a longing for truth], even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”

There’s a lot going on here in this short parable. Jesus dives right into what the purpose of a lamp is - to give light to people. What light does is to drive out darkness.

How can we expect people to want to hear the gospel when it comes out that we are hiding and excusing sin? The news is full of stories that involve trusted members of a faith community who are abusing others in secret. Why are we shocked when the world doesn't trust us, when they call us hypocrites? We want to make our churches safe for the people in our congregations, but also for people who have been hurt and aren’t sure where they can find a safe refuge. That’s part of what author Amy Nordhues shared with us today. I hope you’ll take something you’ve learned here and help your church become a light in the darkness in your community.

Can you trust everyone in your church? Not always. Listen here for Season 3, Episode 12: Bitter Jealousy: The Murder that Shocked a Small Town Church

Please visit my website to access more episodes, read my blog posts, or check out ways you can financially support the podcast so that together we can impact more people, more families, and more communities. If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker, or ask about my consulting and investigative services, please email me at lori@theunlovelytruth.com.

Buy Amy’s book here

Learn more about Amy here

Buy my book, How to Kick Fear to the Curb: Private Investigator Approved Personal Safety Tips with Biblical Evidence to "Fear Not", here