*Content Warning* This episode contains content not suitable for minors. Please listen with discretion.

Friends,

In Episode 8, Catholic Therapist and mom, Lisa Leopold, and I discussed her experiences as a postulant in a religious community, and how the misinterpretation of the vow of obedience caused her and other sisters in the convent to experience spiritual abuse. In this episode, Lisa brings up another issue that is often missed when parents are faced with the aftermath of sexual abuse by a person in a position of authority. She reveals how taking sides can create an intolerable situation for families navigating healing.

Lisa also speaks to the encouraging efforts being made by newer communities and reform-minded leaders who are working toward greater transparency and accountability in religious life. This episode is not about discouraging vocations. It is about ensuring that vocations flourish in environments that protect human dignity and authentic freedom. If you are discerning religious life, or know someone who is, this conversation offers important perspectives.

Lisa's Link(s): https://www.betaniacounseling.com

Connect with Dr. Carron

1. Partner with us HERE
2. Link to my weekly newsletter.
3. Need someone to accompany you on your journey to freedom in a shame-free, nonjudgmental space? Come into coaching with me. To schedule a free consultation click on this link and let's chat!

Note: Opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their personal opinions and do not necessarily represent those of the host. The host understands that guests have the right to freedom of expression.

If the Forgiveness is for YOU podcast resonates with you, please rate, share on social media, write a review, and subscribe.

Apple Podcasts Link:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forgiveness-is-for-you-overcome-trauma-through-forgiveness/id1721956839

How to write a review on Apple Podcast App

1. Open Apple Podcast App
2. Search for Forgiveness is for You: Overcome Trauma…
3. Click on the SHOW, not the episode
4. Scroll all the way down to “Ratings and Reviews”
5. Click on “Write a Review”

Podcast Editor: Dr. Carron Silva

Cover Art Designer: Dr. Carron Silva

Music Provided by: Kode M @kodemaster90

Thank you, and remember Friend, Forgiveness is for YOU!

Content Warning: *This content is not appropriate for minors, so please use a headset or listen in their absence. This episode discusses experiences of spiritual abuse within the church. While we approach this conversation with respect for the Church and for religious vocations, some of the themes may be difficult for listeners who have experienced spiritual trauma. Please listen at your own pace and care for your heart as needed.*

Friends,

What happens when the vow of obedience that is meant to free the heart for Christ becomes a mechanism of control?

In this episode of Forgiveness Is for YOU, I speak with Lisa Leopold about her experience as a postulant in a Catholic religious order and the spiritual abuse she encountered during formation. Together we explore how authority in religious life can become distorted, how the misuse of obedience can cause emotional and spiritual trauma, and what healing looks like on the other side.

Spiritual abuse in the Church is often difficult to name, especially when it is cloaked in piety or justified as “God’s will.”

Now a wife, mother, and licensed therapist, Lisa accompanies former religious and others who are healing from spiritual abuse. Her work sheds light on both the wounds and the hope for reform and transparency within religious communities.

Lisa's Link(s)

Website: http://www.bethaniacounseling.com/

Connect with Dr. Carron

1. Partner with us HERE
2. Link to my weekly newsletter.
3. Need someone to accompany you on your journey to freedom in a shame-free, nonjudgmental space? Come into coaching with me. To schedule a free consultation, click on this link and let's chat!

Note: Opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their personal opinions and do not necessarily represent those of the host. The host understands that guests have the right to freedom of expression.

If the Forgiveness is for YOU podcast resonates with you, please rate, share on social media, write a review, and subscribe.

Apple Podcasts Link:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forgiveness-is-for-you-overcome-trauma-through-forgiveness/id1721956839

How to write a review on Apple Podcast App

1. Open Apple Podcast App
2. Search for Forgiveness is for You: Overcome Trauma…
3. Click on the SHOW, not the episode
4. Scroll all the way down to “Ratings and Reviews”
5. Click on “Write a Review”

Podcast Editor: Dr. Carron Silva

Cover Art Designer: Dr. Carron Silva

Music Provided by: Kode M @kodemaster90

Thank you, and remember Friend, Forgiveness is for YOU!

Friends,

In this opening episode of a new series, I begin a much-needed conversation about spiritual abuse: what it is, how it manifests, and why so many suffer in silence within church communities. Drawing from Pope Francis’ definition and addressing the dangers of clericalism, I explore how manipulation of conscience, misuse of authority, and distorted interpretations of Scripture can wound the faithful.

I give a preview of upcoming episodes and use exhortations from the books of James and 1 Peter to encourage the Body of Christ to love another. This series is not about tearing down the Church, but about calling it higher so that true healing, accountability, and renewal can begin.

Reference(s):

Glatz, Carol (2021). Vatican City — August 6, 2021 Societies of Apostolic Life, attends a news conference at the Vatican July 22, 2016. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/spiritual-abuse-occurs-more-frequently-believed-vatican-official-says

Connect with Dr. Carron

1. Sign up for the Free to Forgive Masterclass: Five Weeks to Release and Renewal
2. Partner with us HERE
3. Link to my weekly newsletter.
4. Need someone to accompany you on your journey to freedom in a shame-free, nonjudgmental space? Come into coaching with me. To schedule a free consultation click on this link and let's chat!

Note: Opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their personal opinions and do not necessarily represent those of the host. The host understands that guests have the right to freedom of expression.

If the Forgiveness is for YOU podcast resonates with you, please rate, share on social media, write a review, and subscribe.

Apple Podcasts Link:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forgiveness-is-for-you-overcome-trauma-through-forgiveness/id1721956839

How to write a review on Apple Podcast App

1. Open Apple Podcast App
2. Search for Forgiveness is for You: Overcome Trauma…
3. Click on the SHOW, not the episode
4. Scroll all the way down to “Ratings and Reviews”
5. Click on “Write a Review”

Podcast Editor: Dr. Carron Silva

Cover Art Designer: Dr. Carron Silva

Music Provided by: Kode M @kodemaster90

Thank you, and remember Friend, Forgiveness is for YOU!

Friends,

In a culture that often equates success with wealth and possessions, author and former special education teacher and school administrator Rosemary Olender invites us to rethink inheritance altogether. In this episode, we explore how character and forgiveness form a legacy that outlasts money, status, and material goods.

Rosemary shares how forgiveness is not only a personal healing practice, but a formative virtue, one that shapes family culture, strengthens empathy, and influences generations to come. Together, we reflect on how parents and caregivers can model forgiveness in everyday life and intentionally pass on values that endure.

Rosemary's Links:

Profile: Talks.co: https://talks.co/rosemary-olender/

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/rosemary-olender-227660356

FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/Coffee-and-Wisdom/61575571752937/

Free Resource: Family Connection Insight Survey:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kP7y4tIkIkaYgFhfud2Lsx7k06c6Btgep7JbeptuLLI/edit?tab=t.

Connect with Dr. Carron

1. Learn more about the Free to Forgive Masterclass
2. Visit www.drcarron.com to sign up for my weekly email newsletter, where I share mindset skills, life hacks, and reflections on healing and forgiveness. When you sign up, you’ll receive a free guide: The ABC’s of Supporting a Loved One in Trauma.
3. Need someone to accompany you on your journey to freedom in a shame-free, nonjudgmental space? Come into coaching with me. To schedule a free consultation, click on this link and let's chat!

Note: Opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their personal opinions and do not necessarily represent those of the host. The host understands that guests have the right to freedom of expression.

If the Forgiveness is for YOU podcast resonates with you, please rate, share on social media, write a review, and subscribe.

Apple Podcasts Link:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forgiveness-is-for-you-overcome-trauma-through-forgiveness/id1721956839

How to write a review on Apple Podcast App

1. Open Apple Podcast App
2. Search for Forgiveness is for You: Overcome Trauma…
3. Click on the SHOW, not the episode
4. Scroll all the way down to “Ratings and Reviews”
5. Click on “Write a Review”

Podcast Editor: Dr. Carron Silva

Cover Art Designer: Dr. Carron Silva

Music Provided by: Kode M @kodemaster90

Thank you, and remember Friend, Forgiveness is for YOU!

*Content warning* - Content not suitable for minors. Please listen with discretion.

Friends,

Many of us feel skeptical when someone says they’ve heard God or encountered Jesus in a tangible way. And yet, at the core of the human heart is a longing to be seen, known, and loved, especially in painful places.

What happens when God breaks into a life marked by deep childhood trauma?

In this episode, I reflect on how Jesus meets people exactly where they are, not only within the walls of faith or religious practice, but across denominations, belief systems, doubt, and even disbelief. My guest, author Lynn Busby, shares her story of surviving a childhood that could easily be the backdrop of a horror film. At just twelve years old, Lynn experienced a profound encounter with Jesus that revealed Christ as the Divine Physician, bringing healing, safety, and love in the midst of trauma.

Lynn's links:

Blog: lynnbusby.com

Lynn's book: The Scent of Water: Busby, Lynn: 9781951611675: Books - Amazon.ca

Connect with Dr. Carron

1. Partner with us HERE
2. Link to my weekly newsletter.
3. Need someone to accompany you on your journey to freedom in a shame-free, nonjudgmental space? Come into coaching with me. To schedule a free consultation click on this link and let's chat!

Note: Opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their personal opinions and do not necessarily represent those of the host. The host understands that guests have the right to freedom of expression.

If the Forgiveness is for YOU podcast resonates with you, please rate, share on social media, write a review, and subscribe.

Apple Podcasts Link:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forgiveness-is-for-you-overcome-trauma-through-forgiveness/id1721956839

How to write a review on Apple Podcast App

1. Open Apple Podcast App
2. Search for Forgiveness is for You: Overcome Trauma…
3. Click on the SHOW, not the episode
4. Scroll all the way down to “Ratings and Reviews”
5. Click on “Write a Review”

Podcast Editor: Dr. Carron Silva

Cover Art Designer: Dr. Carron Silva

Music Provided by: Kode M @kodemaster90

Thank you, and remember Friend, Forgiveness is for YOU!

Listener Note: This episode includes a personal story involving abortion and emotional trauma. The conversation is approached with care, compassion, and a focus on healing. Please listen at your own pace and tend to your heart as needed.

Friends,

In this episode, I am joined by Brittany Poppe, who vulnerably shares her story of experiencing abortion at age seventeen, the emotional and spiritual aftermath, and the long road toward healing. We speak honestly about trauma, mercy, and the possibility of restoration after profound loss.

This conversation is not about judgment or debate. It is an invitation into compassion, hope, and the healing that becomes possible when trauma meets mercy.

This episode is for anyone carrying silent grief, unresolved trauma, or a longing for mercy after a painful decision. You are not alone—and healing is possible.

In this episode, Brittany Poppe and I explore:

• Trauma as a wound of the heart, body, and spirit
• How Scripture speaks to the brokenhearted
• The often-unspoken emotional impact of abortion
• Why abortion can be experienced as trauma, even years later
• The role of mercy, forgiveness, and faith in healing
• Finding hope and restoration after profound loss
• How Brittany now walks with other women on their healing journeys

Brittany's Links:

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/abortion-recovery-for-christian-women-abortion-regret/id1668717310

Instagram: https://instagram.com/brittanypoppe

Media Kit: https://brittanypoppe.com/media-kit

Lent is just around the corner, and it’s a meaningful time to examine our hearts — especially the places where anger, resentment, or bitterness may still linger.

I recently launched a successful pilot of my online forgiveness course, Free to Forgive Masterclass: Five Weeks to Release and Renewal, and I’ll be offering it again beginning February 22. If you’ve spent years in therapy but sense there is still forgiveness work needed for deep

er healing, this course may be for you.

Connect with Dr. Carron

1. Parter with us HERE
2. Link to my weekly newsletter.
3. Need someone to accompany you on your journey to freedom in a shame-free, nonjudgmental space? Come into coaching with me. To schedule a free consultation click on this link and let's chat!

Note: Opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their personal opinions and do not necessarily represent those of the host. The host understands that guests have the right to freedom of expression.

If the Forgiveness is for YOU podcast resonates with you, please rate, share on social media, write a review, and subscribe.

Apple Podcasts Link:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forgiveness-is-for-you-overcome-trauma-through-forgiveness/id1721956839

How to write a review on Apple Podcast App

1. Open Apple Podcast App
2. Search for Forgiveness is for You: Overcome Trauma…
3. Click on the SHOW, not the episode
4. Scroll all the way down to “Ratings and Reviews”
5. Click on “Write a Review”

Podcast Editor: Dr. Carron Silva

Cover Art Designer: Dr. Carron Silva

Music Provided by: Kode M @kodemaster90

Thank you, and remember Friend, Forgiveness is for YOU!

Friends,

Finding a therapist who truly “gets” you can be challenging, especially if you’ve experienced both painful and healing moments in therapy. In this episode, I’m joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr. Matthew Breuninger to explore what creates safety in the therapist-client relationship, why belonging is essential to healing, and how our relationship with God the Father can shape the therapeutic journey.

We discuss what to look for in a therapist, how to discern when coaching has reached its limits, and the heart behind the KNOWN program, which Dr. Breuninger co-created with Isaac Wicker, a program I’ve personally participated in twice.

This episode is for anyone who has felt unseen in therapy, struggled with trust or belonging, or is seeking deeper healing at the intersection of faith and mental health.

Dr. Breuninger's Info:

IG:@AskaCatholictherapist; @KnownbytheFather

Website: https://www.knownbythefather.com/

Lent is just around the corner, and it’s a meaningful time to examine our hearts — especially the places where anger, resentment, or bitterness may still linger.

I recently launched a successful pilot of my online forgiveness course, Free to Forgive Masterclass: Five Weeks to Release and Renewal, and I’ll be offering it again beginning February 22,2026. If you’ve spent years in therapy. but sense there is still forgiveness work needed for deeper healing, this masterclass may be just for you.

Connect with Dr. Carron

1. Partner with us HERE
2. Link to my weekly newsletter.
3. Need someone to accompany you on your journey to freedom in a shame-free, nonjudgmental space? Come into coaching with me. To schedule a free consultation click on this link and let's chat!

Note: Opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their personal opinions and do not necessarily represent those of the host. The host understands that guests have the right to freedom of expression.

If the Forgiveness is for YOU podcast resonates with you, please rate, share on social media, write a review, and subscribe.

Apple Podcasts Link:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forgiveness-is-for-you-overcome-trauma-through-forgiveness/id1721956839

How to write a review on Apple Podcast App

1. Open Apple Podcast App
2. Search for Forgiveness is for You: Overcome Trauma…
3. Click on the SHOW, not the episode
4. Scroll all the way down to “Ratings and Reviews”
5. Click on “Write a Review”

Podcast Editor: Dr. Carron Silva

Cover Art Designer: Dr. Carron Silva

Music Provided by: Kode M @kodemaster90

Thank you, and remember Friend, Forgiveness is for YOU!

Friends,

In this episode of Forgiveness Is for YOU, my guest, Mandy Horne shares how a medical crisis became the turning point that exposed an abusive relationship, revealed unexpected protection, and opened the door to a new calling in nursing.

While recovering in the ICU, Mandy experienced both betrayal and God's grace through family, friends, strangers, and quiet moments where Christ made His presence known. We talk about how trauma clarifies truth, how forgiveness does not require denial, and how freedom often begins when we listen to what pain is teaching us.

This episode is for anyone who has faced illness, emotional abuse, or family dysfunction and wondered whether healing and purpose were still possible on the other side.

Mandy's links:

Mandy's Free Gift: 3-Step Guide to Step Confidently into Your Next Season

Website: mandy@wellspringoflifecoaches.com

Connect with Dr. Carron

1. Partner with us. Learn more HERE.
2. Link to my weekly newsletter.
3. Need someone to accompany you on your journey to freedom in a shame-free, nonjudgmental space? Come into coaching with me. To schedule a free consultation, click on this link and let's chat!

Note: Opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their personal opinions and do not necessarily represent those of the host. The host understands that guests have the right to freedom of expression.

If the Forgiveness is for YOU podcast resonates with you, please rate, share on social media, write a review, and subscribe.

Apple Podcasts Link:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forgiveness-is-for-you-overcome-trauma-through-forgiveness/id1721956839

How to write a review on Apple Podcast App

1. Open Apple Podcast App
2. Search for Forgiveness is for You: Overcome Trauma…
3. Click on the SHOW, not the episode
4. Scroll all the way down to “Ratings and Reviews”
5. Click on “Write a Review”

Podcast Editor: Dr. Carron Silva

Cover Art Designer: Dr. Carron Silva

Music Provided by: Kode M @kodemaster90

Thank you, and remember Friend, Forgiveness is for YOU!