Steven R. Tracy - Mending the Soul: Understanding and Healing Abuse

praise for mending the soul

This is a very thorough and biblical analysis of abuse and how to overcome it. Every pastor and biblical counselor should have a copy of Mending the Soul.

Dr. Neil T. Anderson, founder and president

emeritus of Freedom in Christ Ministries

Mending the Soul integrates very well the biblical-theological-psychological understanding of abuse. It is a pragmatic, insightful, candid evaluation of the problem and contains specific recommendations for healing psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Ralph Earle, Ph.D., family therapist and

psychologist, author of Lonely All the Time

Steve Tracy has made an enormous contribution to our understanding of the biblical, social, and psychological dimensions of abuse and its impact on our society and the church. As a pastor who deals often with the effects of abuse, I am deeply indebted to him for providing this useful instrument to help heal and mend souls.

Wayne R. Lehsten, pastor of counseling and

marriage ministries, Scottsdale Bible Church,

Scottsdale, Arizona

As a family physician for thirty years, I saw the faces of many of my patients as I read the pages of Dr. Tracys bookpatients who presented with difficult sets of cryptic symptomsand realized what their real diagnosis was. I will have multiple copies of this book on hand to help patients suffering from these issues, and Ill be recommending it for all my colleagues, including residents and medical students, for whom this should be required reading to sensitize them to this devastating problem.

Jacqueline A. Chadwick, M.D., vice dean of academic

affairs, University of Arizona College of Medicine,

Phoenix Campus

Mending the Soul is by far the best book Ive seen for integrating biblical foundations and scientific research as it describes abuse and its effects, reaching its height in the comprehensive model for healing abuse emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. Pastors, counselors, and teachers alike will relish this excellent resource.

Gerry Breshears, Ph.D., professor of theology,

Western Seminary Portland, Oregon

Steven Tracy deals honestly and profoundly with the troubling and long-neglected issue of abuse in this much-needed work. It demonstrates biblical fidelity and pastoral concern while raising awareness of the problemespecially for the churchand showing the path to healing.

Dr. Kenneth Magnuson, associate professor

of Christian ethics, The Southern Baptist

Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky

With the biblical wisdom of a theologian and the counseling insights of a therapist, Steve Tracy has crafted an invaluable resource for those concerned with abuse in all its forms. Tracy offers a scripturally anchored model of abuse recovery that includes practical suggestions and copious real-life examples. Chapter 9 by itself (on rebuilding intimacy with God) is worth the price of the book. This volume deserves to be read and reread by every pastor, counselor, and serious people helper.

Sandra D. Wilson, Ph.D., seminary professor,

spiritual director, and author of Released from Shame

and Into Abbas Arms

Steven Tracys book on abuse skillfully weaves together sound theology, insightful biblical exegesis, and the best of psychological findings about the horrors of abuse and the road to recovery. Featuring many case examples from his extensive work with survivors, the book stands as a substantial challenge to the church: Stop revictimizing survivors and begin facilitating their healing.

James R. Beck, Ph.D., professor of counseling,

Denver Seminary

ZONDERVAN

Mending the Soul

Copyright 2005 by Steven R. Tracy

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan.

ePub Edition January 2009 ISBN: 978-0-310-54020-5

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

ISBN 978-0-310-28529-8

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Tracy, Steven R.

Mending the Soul : understanding and healing abuse / Steven R. Tracy. 1st ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

1. Sexually abused childrenPastoral counseling of. 2. Adult child sexual abuse

victimsPastoral counseling of. 3. Child sexual abuseReligious aspects-Christianity.

4. Abused childrenPastoral counseling of. 5. Adult abuse victimsPastoral counseling of. 6.

Child abuse-Religious aspectsChristianity. I. Title.

BV4464.3.T73 2005

259'.1dc22

2004025695

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

The website addresses mentioned in the endnotes are offered as a resource to you. These websites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of Zondervan, nor do we vouch for their content for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

_______________________________________________________________________

08 09 10 11 12 13 23 22 21 20 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Stories and examples used in the book are based on actual events, but various details have been changed to preserve anonymity of the individuals involved. In several instances, stories are composites of two or more actual events.

The information in this book should not be construed as professional or legal counsel. Readers are encouraged to consult legal and medical professionals with specific questions or concerns.The author and the publisher expressly disclaim responsibility for any adverse effects resulting from application of the information contained herein.

contents

Many individuals have graciously made this book possible, including our supporters who several years ago helped to make my doctoral research in England a reality. While I was on the pastoral staff at First Baptist Church in Tempe, Arizona, Dr. Roger Ball and other church leaders believed in me and graciously allowed me to apply many of the principles and policies in this book to my pastoral ministry there. Im grateful to the leadership teams of Mending the Soul Ministries and Phoenix Seminary for their encouragement and excitement regarding this project. Im exceedingly thankful for those who have entrusted to me their own stories of abuse and healing. I have countless reasons to be thankful for my own family, which has been incredibly supportive and patient while I have labored over this project. I am particularly thankful for Celestia, my life partner and soul mate, whose love and God-given expertise at healing wounded souls have transformed this book and me. Finally, I am most grateful for Mary. Her courage to face the pain and truth of her abuse and to wrestle with God until she experienced his healing touch has inspired me more than she will ever know. By Gods grace, her story will inspire countless others. I dedicate this book to her. To God alone be the glory!