Ebor Lecture: From Silencing to Strength: Addressing Spiritual Abuse and Abuses of Power
21st May 2025, 7-9pm. Venue: York Minster and online, followed by drinks reception.
Free to attend. Please reserve a place via this link – Eventbrite.
Prof Lisa Oakley (C.Psychol) SFHEA (Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy) acted as a core participant in the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse and chaired the national working group for child abuse linked to faith and belief. She is current chair of the British Psychological Society Safeguarding Advisory Group, and chairs the postgraduate research group for spiritual abuse/religious trauma. She has written training, policy and practice guidance. She is a qualitative researcher but has also conducted mixed-methods studies. Her research interests are primarily focused on safeguarding in faith contexts, including the development of an understanding of spiritual abuse and how to create healthy safe cultures. Current work is focusing on exploring experiences of disclosure and non-disclosure of abuse experienced within religious contexts, using visual methods.