When Church Hurts: My Journey to Healing from Spiritual Abuse

Written By Melodi Kitzmiller

I never thought I would be someone who questioned church. Not faith—church. I believed that following Christ meant being deeply rooted in a church community, submitting to spiritual authority, and adhering to the standards set before me. But over time, I started to notice something unsettling: The church I trusted began overstepping healthy boundaries, making me feel more controlled than nurtured by grace.

I’ve realized that when I talk about spiritual abuse and legalism, some of my readers assume I’m referencing a church I recently attended. The truth is, the legalism I speak of was so deeply ingrained in an earlier church experience that its effects lingered long after I left. It wasn’t just about strict rules or conservative values—it was an all-encompassing system of control, one that dictated not just how I worshiped, but how I thought, felt, and even viewed myself before God. To continue reading click here.

Melodi Kitzmiller

Christian mental health coaching, and teaching how to live well after experiencing traumatic events, which may include suffering from anxiety, post-trauma symptoms, and depression, and aren’t sure where to go from here. Melodi holds a master of arts in trauma and crisis counseling and works from a Christian worldview. She has helped adults who have suffered traumatic childhoods, spiritual abuse, childhood sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, and those who are simply searching to find the fulfillment that a life of well-being can bring.

https://MelodiKitzmiller.com
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