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Training Church Leaders and Counselors to Recognize and Respond to Abusive Behaviors

About Leslie

STRONG PEOPLE STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES, BUT STRONGER PEOPLE STAND UP FOR OTHERS.

My own painful and destructive relationship with my mother began in my childhood, but it did not stop when I grew up. When I was eight years old, my parents went through an ugly divorce. My younger sister, brother, and I went to live with our mother. After years of enduring mom’s alcoholism and abusive behavior, my father finally gained custody of us. My mother remarried and eventually moved to another state. She chose not to stay closely involved with her children.

For more than fifteen years, during my adulthood, I didn’t see or speak to my mom. Before that time, my contact with her was sporadic and always tense. She didn’t attend my wedding, nor was she present when my son was born or my daughter was adopted from Korea. She never shared Christmas with us or invited my family to visit her.

The helplessness, confusion, frustration and hurt can be overwhelming at times. It can be tricky, and sometimes risky, to navigate through it in a God-honoring way.

Even as a Christian counselor, I struggled with how to honor my mother without losing myself.

I eventually learned

  • how and when to set appropriate boundaries
  • how to confront and when to forbear
  • how to overcome evil with good
  • and how to let go of all those negative messages swirling around in my head.

But this problem is bigger than me and you. My mission is to bravely stand up for those who suffer in the shadows.
The Church has been rather slow to acknowledge the validity of emotional abuse, especially in marriage – and real change can only start if pastors, lay leaders and other counselors start to see the reality that many people face.

***

Leslie Vernick is a popular speaker, author, and was licensed in Pennsylvania as a clinical social worker where she maintained a private practice for 30 years.

She is the author of seven books, including the best selling, The Emotionally Destructive Relationship and her most recent The Emotionally Destructive Marriage.

Leslie has been a featured guest on Focus on the Family Radio, Family Life Today with Dennis Rainey, Moody Mid-Day Connection and she was a regular contributor to the WHOA Women’s Magazine. Internationally, she’s spoken in Cuba, Canada, Romania, Russia, Hungary, the Philippines, British Virgin Islands and Iraq.

Reader Interactions

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Leslie Vernick gets it!

“Leslie Vernick gets it! She is a gifted writer, speaker, counselor, and coach who is relevant, insightful, and anchored in Biblical wisdom.
It’s a pleasure to recommend her as a refreshing leader in today’s culture.”

Dr. Tim Clinton
President, American Association of Christian Counselors

I’ve benefited immensely from Leslie Vernick’s books

“I’ve benefited immensely from Leslie Vernick’s books and speaking ministry. Leslie is faithful to Scripture and her advice is true to life, with a wide understanding drawn from an extensive counseling ministry. I’ve seen her address potentially explosive issues with compassion and insight. She calls people to God’s best and is faithful to the dictates of God’s word, but she demonstrates tremendous empathy and understanding in its application. Any ministry that represents such faithfulness to the biblical record along with empathy and understanding is a ministry that I highly trust.”

Gary Thomas

Author of the books: Sacred Marriage and Cherish

Leslie and Chris Moles did an extensive training

Leslie and Chris Moles did an extensive training for The Village Church leaders on working with couples in destructive marriages. Here is what their leaders said:

“Leslie and Chris exhibited a profound mastery of the content in our work with them. They are each experts in this field of study with a wealth of knowledge from which to draw wisdom. Coupled with their vast study are decades of experience working with victims, abusers, and couples. Their insights and advice were invaluable for our ministers for both recognizing abusive behaviors and working with victims and perpetrators of abuse. They are able to advise with a level of detail, nuance, discernment, and pastoral delicacy that is fitting for this intricate topic.

Chris and Leslie are not only extremely qualified to speak into this field, but their counsel is rich with the gospel. They show a deep understanding of how God’s character and redemptive plan inform the church’s response to abuse. Simultaneously, they are very well acquainted with the church’s troubled history of dealing with this issue with the seriousness and intentionality that is necessary. Their training makes key corrections and recommendations for churches that seek to honor the Lord’s high view of covenant and to protect vulnerable and abused people.

We have no doubt that Leslie and Chris will be a fantastic resource for your church or organization. We eagerly recommend them to you.”

Matt Chandler, Josh Patterson, and Brian Miller
Lead Pastors
The Village Church
Dallas, Texas

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Contact

Leslie Vernick DCSW, ACSW, LSW
720-432-6472

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Main Website:
https://www.leslievernick.com/

LOCATION

P.O. Box 5312
Sun City West, AZ 85376

©2017 Christ-Centered Counseling