Seven Helpful and Healing Resources for Hurting Women
Article by Christine Crawford
Previously published as part two of a four-part series in The Estuary, examining the relationship between abusive marriages and flawed gender theology in the church.
One in every three Christian women encounters intimate partner harm, yet many pastors feel hesitant or ill-equipped to address abuse in their churches. Likewise, some Christian counselors have the best of intentions but lack the specialized trauma-informed training that abusive dynamics require. And a hurting woman’s friends and family members often ache to help her navigate, escape, or heal from a harmful relational dynamic, but recognize they are unqualified to do so. With so many Christian women suffering, how can we equip ourselves for healthy relationships and/or respond compassionately to hurting women?
Whether you're navigating a painful relationship or supporting someone who is, these seven resources offer helpful insight and healing.
1. Christian and relationship expert Leslie Vernick offers a biblically based curriculum, healing resources, relational coaching, and a private community for women enduring difficult or destructive marriages. Her book, The Emotionally Destructive Marriage, utilizes a quiz tohelp women ascertain marital health and provides renewed hope for a path forward. By offering biblical insight and practical advice, Leslie’s work strengthens women enduring heartbreaking relational dynamics and teaches them how to maintain loving boundaries and escape abuse.
2. Lysa TerKeurst personally understands the pain of betrayal, emotional trauma, and an unwanted divorce. On her podcast Therapy and Theology, Lysa chats with licensed professional counselor Jim Cress and theologian Dr. Joel Muddamalle about God-honoring relationships. They correct some misunderstandings about God’s will for marriage and heart for women. Lysa’s book Good Boundaries and Goodbyes helps Christian women set loving yet appropriate boundaries and discern what Scripture says about unsafe and unsustainable marriages.
3. As a Christian divorce recovery leader for over twenty years, Gretchen Baskerville ministers to women as they navigate—and heal from—the devastation of divorce. Her book, The Life-Saving Divorce, helps women discern whether their marriage qualifies as harmful and restores hope to those who must divorce by helping them find supportive community, deal with disapproval, help children adjust, and pursue emotional healing.
4. Author and Counselor Darby Strickland provides education, resources, coaching, and online support for Christian women experiencing emotional and spiritual abuse. her book, Is It Abuse?: A Biblical Guide to Identifying Domestic Abuse and Helping Victims,helps women identify toxic patterns and break the confusing cycles that keep women trapped in oppressive marriages.
5. Lundy Bancroft provides resources and leads workshops for counseling and ministry professionals who wish to understand the dynamics—and address the impact—of abuse. With over thirty years of experience working with domestic abusers, his book, Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men, offers insight into the mindsets and tactics of entitled and controlling men and helps women find a safe way forward in—or from—their abusive relationship.
6. Through her organization, Flying Free, abuse survivor Natalie Hoffman hosts a public and private podcast, provides a wealth of articles and resources, and offers education, coaching, and support for Christian women experiencing emotional and spiritual abuse in their marriages. Natalie’s bookIs it Me?provides clarity to hurting women by dispelling the common misconceptions and interrupting the confusing cycles that often keep women trapped in damaging relationships.
7. Bob and Polly Hamp, founders and leaders of Think Differently Academy, host an online community featuring hundreds of relational and emotional health courses and resources for abuse victims, counselors, and pastors. Their Reclaim Conference and Dynamics of Abuse course equip their community with the knowledge and tools women need to reclaim the life God intends for them by breaking free from the dynamics of abuse.
Whether you plan to explore these resources for yourself or recommend them to someone you know is hurting, thank you for your heart for women and willingness to respond redemptively.
Need additional relational resources or support?
Visit the Draw Near Dwell Well page and/or download this free guide for a comprehensive list of trusted relational resources:
Additional Articles on Abuse
How Should Pastors Think Differently About Abuse? by Christine M. Crawford | Published in Lifeway Research
By learning to think differently about abuse, pastors can equip themselves to better identify harmful dynamics and care for hurting people.
The Too-Typical Story of Abuse by Christine M. Crawford | Published in The Estuary
Her anguish compels her forward, and with tissues twisting in her trembling hands, Sarah shares her concerns about Rick’s excessive drinking and terrifying temper.
The Data on the Damage Done by Christine M. Crawford | published in The Estuary
How (and why) do so many churches and pastors retraumatize abused women when they reach out for help? I conducted my own informal research, and here's what I discovered.
About the Author
Christine Crawford
Christine is a published poet, dignity defender, and an unabashed theology geek with a heart for the vulnerable. She holds 1.5 master's degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary and loves to help people explore God's upside-down kingdom through art, story, and humor. You'll find Christine on the porch of her creekside cabin with her two dogs (one sinner, one saint), savoring anything involving music, laughter, nature, or words.