Psycho Therapy

Leah Denton
  • 5.0 (3)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Psycho Therapy is a show dedicated to amplifying the voices of survivors who have experienced therapy harm. This podcast aims to shed light on the often overlooked aspects of therapy abuse and provide a supportive platform for survivors to share their stories. Join us as we listen, learn, and advocate for both awareness of red flags and change in the mental health field.

  1. JUL 2

    Therapy Harm: A Conversation With Dr. Kirk Honda

    In our season finale, Dr. Kirk Honda, therapist and host of Psychology In Seattle, joins us to discuss the topic of harm in therapy. We talk about what therapy harm can look like, why it happens, and how clients and clinicians can better recognize and respond to it. Whether you’re in therapy, considering it, or working as a mental health professional, this conversation offers practical insight into a difficult but important subject.

    46 min

  2. JUN 4

    How Abusers Groom Their Inner Circle: A Conversation with Carson Weitnauer

    Today’s guest is Carson Weitnauer, a former team member at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Carson joins me to talk about the open letter he wrote to Lori Anne Thompson a public apology for his role in enabling Ravi Zacharias and failing to see the truth sooner. In this conversation, we explore how powerful individuals often groom their supporters long before they ever groom their victims. Building credibility, loyalty, and layers of protection. Carson’s story is an example of what self-reflection, accountability, and repair can look like in the aftermath of abuse. Whether you’ve experienced betrayal by a trusted institution or just want to better understand how complicity can happen in good people, this episode offers insight, honesty, and hope.

    53 min
  3. Lori Anne Thompson on Ravi Zacharias, Adult Grooming, and Healing

    MAY 20

    Lori Anne Thompson on Ravi Zacharias, Adult Grooming, and Healing

    In this raw and deeply moving interview, survivor Lori Anne Thompson shares her personal story of being groomed and abused by Ravi Zacharias. While their relationship wasn’t formally pastoral counseling, it carried many of the same power dynamics—spiritual authority, trust, and vulnerability. Lori Anne reflects on the factors in her life that made her more susceptible to abuse, the manipulative tactics used under the guise of faith, and the systems that enabled it. We also confront the church’s role in victim-blaming and explore what authentic healing looks like after betrayal by a spiritual leader.

    49 min
  4. Julie Anne Smith on Biblical Counseling and Church Abuse

    MAY 6

    Julie Anne Smith on Biblical Counseling and Church Abuse

    This week, I’m joined by Julie Anne Smith, the voice behind The Spiritual Sounding Board, a blog dedicated to exposing church abuse and shedding light on the harmful effects of patriarchy, particularly for women. Julie Anne shares her personal experience with biblical counseling and how it left her feeling injured. Together, we explore the ways in which the church can perpetuate toxic dynamics and how we can work toward healing and accountability.

    25 min
  5. Bonus Episode: Biblical Counseling Explained

    APR 29

    Bonus Episode: Biblical Counseling Explained

    In today’s episode, we explore Biblical counseling — what it is, how it can help, and how it can harm. Our guest, Noelle, joins us to walk through the key principles, practices, and potential pitfalls.

    30 min
  6. Peter Bell, Host of Sons of Patriarchy: On Biblical Counseling

    APR 23

    Peter Bell, Host of Sons of Patriarchy: On Biblical Counseling

    Today's episode marks the start of our in-depth series on the potential harms of faith-based counseling, examining how scripture can sometimes be misused as a tool of control rather than healing. Approximately one-quarter of U.S. adults—about 28 percent—identify as evangelical Christians, and many turn to church-run counseling rather than licensed therapists. But what are the consequences when Christian nationalism, purity culture, and patriarchy influence the guidance given, leading to harmful practices and the reinforcement of abusive systems? In this first episode, I am joined by Peter Bell, host of the Sons of Patriarchy podcast, to explore how “Bible-only” therapy often silences survivors, how patriarchal theology shapes advice on relationships and mental health, and the critical warning signs when pastoral care shifts into manipulation and control. This conversation serves as the foundation for the important discussions that follow throughout the series.

    49 min

  7. APR 1

    Daniel Mackler: A Former Therapist's Critique

    Former therapist Daniel Mackler offers a critical insider’s perspective on the mental health field, exposing the flaws and hidden harms within the therapy system. We discuss why he left the profession, the ways therapy can sometimes do more harm than good, and what he believes needs to change. https://youtu.be/IwS7HyA6Oaw?si=3kE8A5wOBEv8pSEQ

    50 min
  8. Reunification Therapy: A Court Ordered Nightmare

    MAR 18

    Reunification Therapy: A Court Ordered Nightmare

    In the conclusion of Maya and Justin’s story, we reveal what it meant for Maya to be legally kidnapped—cut off from her father, family, and friends for seven months—and the harrowing escape that brought her and her little brother back home. But their fight didn’t end there. Even after breaking free, they faced a court system determined to silence them. Reunification therapy is supposed to heal families, but for too many children, it’s a weapon of control. Maya and Justin’s story is a warning—because if it can happen to them, it can happen to anyone.

    40 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Psycho Therapy is a show dedicated to amplifying the voices of survivors who have experienced therapy harm. This podcast aims to shed light on the often overlooked aspects of therapy abuse and provide a supportive platform for survivors to share their stories. Join us as we listen, learn, and advocate for both awareness of red flags and change in the mental health field.

Information

  • Creator
    Leah Denton
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Leah Denton
  • Show Website
    Psycho Therapy

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