Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Marital Damage and Recovery Following Religious Abuse (Pat and Heidi Knapp)
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Heidi I. Knapp, CLC. Life Recovery Coach specializing in spiritual and relational abuse issues. Heidi has completed University courses in both theology and psychology. In addition, she completed counseling studies in addictions CAC ll. She has spent 25 years in personal study and education on recovery related issues, which include her formal art education. In addition to coaching clients, Heidi co-directs Becoming Free LLC, alongside her husband Pat, with whom she co-facilitates support and recovery groups for those who have experienced spiritual abuse. Heidi places a high value on the importance of creativity as a supportive part of the healing process.
She contributes to the educational development of writing curricula for Becoming Free support and recovery groups and has had personal experience with aberrant forms of Christianity. She is a member of the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) and the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). Additionally, Heidi has previously coordinated and led support groups for parents raising special needs children. To contact her, see Becoming Free’s website: becomingfree.org or email becomingfree.org@gmail.com
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Patrick J. Knapp, PhD, completed an MA (Philosophy of Religion) from Denver Seminary (Winter, 2000). His MA thesis was titled “The Place of Mind Control in the Cult Recovery Process.” His doctoral studies focused on marriage and family systems and attachment with his PhD (Pastoral Psychology) thesis at Graduate Theological Foundation “A Survey of Religious Abuse and Recovery.”
He and his wife (Heidi Knapp) co-direct Becoming Free, LLC (www.BecomingFree.org). Their organization facilitates educational support for all those who have been religiously abused. As a life-recovery coach for over 35 years Pat has assisted people to process harmful spiritual experiences for improved insight and emotional healing. He and his wife (Heidi) provide HIPPA compliant video internet and in-person life coaching both for former members and friends and family effected by religious or spiritual abuse.
In 2017 he contributed a chapter on support groups in Cult Recovery: A Clinician’s Guide to Working With Former Members and Families (Goldberg, L. et al, 2017). His most recent book publication is Understanding Religious Abuse and Recovery: Discovering Essential Principles for Hope and Healing (Pickwick Publications, 2021). In this book he evaluates various perspectives of religious abuse recovery and introduces a new perspective (SECURE), a synthesis model that incorporates family systems and attachment theory as understood within a Christian worldview. He also includes in this book: practical recovery strategies, on-going supportive resources and three user-friendly indexes.
Pat and his wife (Heidi) can be reached at becomingfree.org@gmail.com or at 720-227-8695.
Marital Damage and Recovery Following Religious Abuse (Pat and Heidi Knapp)
-
Heidi I. Knapp, CLC. Life Recovery Coach specializing in spiritual and relational abuse issues. Heidi has completed University courses in both theology and psychology. In addition, she completed counseling studies in addictions CAC ll. She has spent 25 years in personal study and education on recovery related issues, which include her formal art education. In addition to coaching clients, Heidi co-directs Becoming Free LLC, alongside her husband Pat, with whom she co-facilitates support and recovery groups for those who have experienced spiritual abuse. Heidi places a high value on the importance of creativity as a supportive part of the healing process.
She contributes to the educational development of writing curricula for Becoming Free support and recovery groups and has had personal experience with aberrant forms of Christianity. She is a member of the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) and the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). Additionally, Heidi has previously coordinated and led support groups for parents raising special needs children. To contact her, see Becoming Free’s website: becomingfree.org or email becomingfree.org@gmail.com
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Patrick J. Knapp, PhD, completed an MA (Philosophy of Religion) from Denver Seminary (Winter, 2000). His MA thesis was titled “The Place of Mind Control in the Cult Recovery Process.” His doctoral studies focused on marriage and family systems and attachment with his PhD (Pastoral Psychology) thesis at Graduate Theological Foundation “A Survey of Religious Abuse and Recovery.”
He and his wife (Heidi Knapp) co-direct Becoming Free, LLC (www.BecomingFree.org). Their organization facilitates educational support for all those who have been religiously abused. As a life-recovery coach for over 35 years Pat has assisted people to process harmful spiritual experiences for improved insight and emotional healing. He and his wife (Heidi) provide HIPPA compliant video internet and in-person life coaching both for former members and friends and family effected by religious or spiritual abuse.
In 2017 he contributed a chapter on support groups in Cult Recovery: A Clinician’s Guide to Working With Former Members and Families (Goldberg, L. et al, 2017). His most recent book publication is Understanding Religious Abuse and Recovery: Discovering Essential Principles for Hope and Healing (Pickwick Publications, 2021). In this book he evaluates various perspectives of religious abuse recovery and introduces a new perspective (SECURE), a synthesis model that incorporates family systems and attachment theory as understood within a Christian worldview. He also includes in this book: practical recovery strategies, on-going supportive resources and three user-friendly indexes.
Pat and his wife (Heidi) can be reached at becomingfree.org@gmail.com or at 720-227-8695.
