Friends, 

Divorce can feel like both a personal and spiritual rupture, leaving many questioning where they stand with God, the Church, and even themselves. But what if healing doesn’t require walking away, but instead how to remain?

In this episode, I’m joined by Carolyn Klika Catino, who shares her own journey through divorce and the deep healing that followed. Now serving others through her apostolate, Abounding Joy Ministry, she walks alongside individuals and families navigating separation and divorce with compassion, clarity, and hope.

Together, we explore what it looks like to:

This conversation is the beginning of a 3-part series on divorce, annulment, and forgiveness, offering a path forward for those seeking both truth and healing.

Reference(s) 

https://www.romereports.com/en/2015/02/05/pope-francis-homily-the-church-should-be-like-a-field-hospital/

Resources & Support

If you or someone you love is experiencing separation or divorce, support is available.

👉 Learn more about Carolyn’s ministry:

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Opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. Guests are welcomed in a spirit of respectful dialogue and freedom of expression.

A Final Word

Thank you for listening, Friend.

Friends, 

What does it look like to feel safe again after experiencing church hurt?

In this episode, we continue the conversation on healing from spiritual wounds by exploring a path forward, one that is honest, and rooted in encounter with Jesus in the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation.

Through personal testimony and reflection, we look at how the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation offer more than ritual—they offer real healing through the presence of the Divine Physician.

If you’ve felt distant, hesitant, or unsure about returning, this episode is a safe place to begin again.

Connect with Dr. Carron

Love the Podcast?

If Forgiveness Is for YOU resonates with you, please:

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Opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. Guests are welcomed in a spirit of respectful dialogue and freedom of expression.

A Final Word

Thank you for listening, Friend.

Friends, 

In this episode Trauma-informed consultant and Neurosomatic Intelligence Practitioner Cendrine Hosoda shares her story of growing up in an evangelical church community in Switzerland where her father, a respected church elder, used Scripture and spiritual authority to control and manipulate his family.

With courage and honesty, Cendrine reflects on what it was like to live inside a faith environment shaped by narcissis, and the long journey toward reclaiming her voice, her body, and her relationship with God.

This conversation does not seek to sensationalize suffering. Instead, it offers hope that even in the presence of deep betrayal, healing and grace are possible.

As Scripture reminds us in 1 Peter 2:19:

"For whenever anyone bears the pain of unjust suffering because of consciousness of God, that is a grace."

If you or someone you love has experienced spiritual manipulation, religious trauma, or abuse within a faith context, this conversation offers both validation and a path toward healing.

Website: https://www.pursuingwholesomehealth.com/ 

Connect with Dr. Carron

Love the Podcast?

If Forgiveness Is for YOU resonates with you, please:

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

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Opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. Guests are welcomed in a spirit of respectful dialogue and freedom of expression.

A Final Word

Thank you for listening, Friend.

* Content Warning* This episode contains mature themes and is not appropriate for minors.

Friends,

In this vulnerable and sobering episode, I visit with Father John Michael Paul, a Catholic priest who discovered that the founder of his religious community had a decades-long history of sexual abuse.  For someone who spent decades serving as a priest and leader in his community, the betrayal was spiritual, deeply personal, and formative.

As someone who entered the Catholic Church shortly before the 2002 abuse crisis, I remember how destabilizing that season was for many of us. In today’s conversation, we explore what happens when the shepherd you trusted is revealed to be a wolf,  and how truth, though painful, becomes the doorway to freedom.

A Note to Listeners

If you have experienced betrayal within the Church, know this: your pain matters. Truth may take years to surface, but light always exposes what darkness tries to conceal.

Forgiveness is not denial. It is not spiritual bypassing. It is a grace which is often slow, often costly, but real.

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:32

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Love the Podcast?

If Forgiveness Is for YOU resonates with you, please:

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Disclaimer

Opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. Guests are welcomed in a spirit of respectful dialogue and freedom of expression.

A Final Word

Thank you for listening, Friend.

Friends, 

In this episode of the ongoing series on spiritual abuse, I sit down with Catholic Counselor Paul Fahey to explore a subtle but deeply impactful layer of harm: the abuse of conscience.

Many of us were taught to “follow our conscience,” but few of us were ever taught how a conscience is properly formed — or how it can be manipulated. When spiritual authority bypasses freedom, pressures compliance, or equates disagreement with sin, faith formation can quietly become control.

Paul defines conscience through a Catholic lens and offers concrete examples of how it can be distorted in families, churches, and religious communities. We also discuss how parents can faithfully teach their children without crossing the line into coercion, and why healthy formation always respects human dignity and freedom.

If you have ever struggled with religious guilt, fear-based teaching, or confusion about trusting your own moral judgment, this conversation will bring clarity and hope.

Paul Fahey's Link(s): 

Email: [email protected]

Article: https://wherepeteris.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/The-Place-Where-You-Stand-is-Holy-Ground.pdf

Presentation: https://youtu.be/HjuL6lIKM28?si=yKvqiC31Ph-WN45P

Reference(s):

The Role of Conscience: https://www.usccb.org/resources/Role%20of%20the%20conscience.pdf

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Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. Guests are welcomed in a spirit of respectful dialogue and freedom of expression.

A Final Word: Thank you for listening, Friend.

Friends, 

In this episode, I welcome Sr. Mary Stephen, founder of Restorative Catholic, to explore a restorative path forward for trauma survivors within the Catholic tradition. Sr. Mary Stephen shares how her vocation within a vocation led her to integrate somatic healing with Catholic spirituality, creating spaces where wounded hearts can safely encounter healing from the inside out.

We discuss how trauma is stored in the body, why traditional spiritual practices sometimes fall short for trauma survivors, and how somatic pilgrimages can help restore trust, presence, and peace. 

If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your body, your faith, or yourself after painful experiences within religious spaces, this episode invites you to consider a path of restoration rooted in compassion, embodiment, and grace.

Sister Mary Stephen's Link(s)

Website: https://restorativecatholic.com/

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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:

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

*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

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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

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Podcast Editor: Dr. Carron Silva

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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

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

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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

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

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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

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

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!