Developing safeguarding policy and practice for Spiritual Abuse Lisa Ruth Oakley and Kathryn Susan Kinmond Dr Lisa Ruth Oakley is a Programme Leader Abuse Studies and Dr Kathryn Susan Kinmond is a Senior Lecturer, Psychology and Abuse Studies, both are based at Interdisciplinary Studies, Manchester Metropolitan University, Crewe, UK. Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a ground-breaking survey into people’s experiences of church and Spiritual Abuse (SA), in a context of issues of safeguarding and policy. Design/methodology/approach – The survey was delivered online between April 2011 and December 2012. Findings – The findings showed many people had encountered negative church experiences. Most respondents had very limited knowledge and understanding of SA and related support and intervention. Research limitations/implications – This survey represents the views of a small percentage of those who attend, or have attended, church and further more extensive research is required to provide a more comprehensive understanding. Additionally research is required within other faiths and cultural contexts. Practical implications – It is evident that there is clearly a need to strengthen current safeguarding policy and practice with regards to SA. Originality/value – This paper offers an initial insight into the challenges for safeguarding together with some suggested intervention strategies. Keywords Intervention, Church, Safeguarding policy, Safeguarding practice, Spiritual Abuse Paper type Research paper Introduction This paper reports the findings of a recent survey into people’s experiences in church, in a context of issues of safeguarding and policy. The survey developed out of the authors’ earlier qualitative work, which explored Spiritual Abuse (SA) in the Christian faith in the UK. It is important to note that SA does not occur solely within the context of the Christian faith. There is evidence of practises which could be deemed spiritually abusive in other faiths. However, this paper focuses on the Christian faith and it is anticipated that further work will expand this into other religious faiths. This qualitative research into SA (Oakley, 2009; Oakley and Kinmond, 2013a) includes the narratives of survivors of SA and practitioners who work with them and it has been carried out in conjunction with the authors’ continuing practice in counselling and training in the area (Oakley and Kinmond, 2013b, c). At the outset it is relevant to note that a major challenge to this work has been the limited understanding and awareness of SA which has been compounded by the lack of an agreed and accepted definition (Parish-West, 2009; Ward, 2011). Consequently it was felt vital to develop a working definition of SA that might begin to provide a reference point for both practitioners and those experiencing this form of abuse. Whilst we recognise that the terms “spirituality” and “spiritual” are contentious and contestable, nonetheless, this is the chosen language of previously published grey literature on this form of abuse. Thus, it seemed appropriate to utilise and develop this term. This definition of SA is given here: Spiritual abuse is coercion and control of one individual by another in a spiritual context. The target experiences spiritual abuse as a deeply emotional personal attack. This abuse may include: - manipulation and exploitation, enforced accountability, censorship of decision making, requirements Thanks are extended to all the research participants. DOI 10.1108/JAP-07-2013-0033 VOL. 16 NO. 2 2014, pp. 87-95, C Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203 j THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION j PAGE 87