There are some people that choose a career in healthcare, mental care, public service – all because they want to help those in need. There are those that do so because they believe it will provide for a secure financial future for them and their families. There is nothing wrong with those motives. Nothing at all. In fact, if you can be of service to others and help to secure your financial future, that almost secures your career motives from the start.

But there are some who enter these fields for nefarious reasons. Maybe their good intentions were the initial factors for choosing that type of career. But, somewhere along the way, they realize that, for whatever reason, they can, let’s say, “Get more of (you fill in the blank).”

In some cases, this selfish motivation soon becomes their focus. It soon becomes a dark side that they “groom and prey upon” their victims. Manipulating them into providing whatever it is  they crave and all the while encouraging them to remain silent about the activities. In some cases – or most cases, even to accept the responsibility for what has happened.

This becomes even more tragic, when these events happen at the intersection of power, vulnerability and religion.  Yes, religion.

My guest today, Amy Nordhues, is a survivor of this type of circumstances.

Amy Nordhues is a survivor of both childhood sexual abuse and sexual abuse as an adult at the hands of a mental health professional. She is a passionate Christ-follower and expert on the healing God provides. She has a BA in Psychology with minors in Sociology and Criminology. Her latest book is, “Prayed Upon: Breaking Free from Therapist Abuse” and won first place in the Inspire Christian Writer's "Great Openings" contest for non-fiction.

This person was a respected elder in the church. Did the pastor address the issue publicly in church? Or the did he allow the doctor to just “go away?”

You initially wanted to press criminal charges but was advised against it. Why?

How prevalent is this type of abuse among professional therapists, counselors, etc.?  Are there any statistics on this?

When your friend reported all of this to the medical board, how long from that time until you attended his license forfeiture hearing?

Was he allowed to continue practicing and seeing other patients that entire year?

Amy, I want to thank you for sharing all of this information with us, through your book and all that you are doing to expose this evil that is among us.

Other than your book, “Prayed Upon,” are you doing any other work, talks, etc. to help others that have faced the same situations you went through?

And your book, “Prayed Upon,” is available in Kindle format on Amazon, correct?  Any print versions released or coming out soon?

And if someone wanted to get in touch with you, to ask a question or maybe to do an interview such as this. How can they do that? How can they get in touch with you?

I’ll put links to all of this down in the show notes.

Folks, unfortunately, in the fallen world in which we live, things like this, like what Amy went through – occur more frequently than we know or would like to admit. I encourage you to order Amy’s book “Prayed Upon: Breaking Free from Therapist Abuse.”  I would like to recommend you purchase two or three copies – or more!  Or share them with others.

I’m sure you know of someone or have heard of someone that may have or may be going through,...