The Allender Center Podcast "Holy Hurt" with Hillary L. McBride, PhD
Oct 24, 2025
Hillary L. McBride, PhD, is a registered psychologist and the author of 'Holy Hurt: Understanding Spiritual Trauma and the Process of Healing.' In this conversation, she dives into the complexities of spiritual abuse and trauma, revealing how these experiences can be reinforced by the very systems meant to support us. Hillary emphasizes the importance of witnessing, connection, and collective healing. She encourages listeners to reclaim hidden aspects of themselves, grieve effectively, and build supportive communities for a healthier recovery journey.
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Trauma Hidden By Religious Normalcy
- Spiritual trauma can be invisible because theology and social norms normalize harm.
- Hillary McBride says trauma often hides in bodies and narratives despite being socially reinforced as 'right'.
Lightbulb Moment Reframing Personal Story
- Rachel describes realizing her own experience fit the frame of spiritual abuse during a podcast conversation.
- She recounts the 'lightning bolt' moment that reframed her story as spiritual trauma.
Spiritual Trauma Has Deep Historical Roots
- Spiritual trauma dates back to colonial conquest and misuse of deity for power.
- McBride argues all trauma affects meaning systems, so 'spiritual trauma' is often integral to other harms.
