Healing From Spiritual Abuse: Divorce, Faith Deconstruction, and Choosing Self-Care with Daphne McGee

Trigger Warning: Abuse (Emotional & Spiritual)

In this powerful and deeply honest episode, we sit down with Daphne McGee, a writer, podcaster, and advocate for women reclaiming their faith, autonomy, and self-worth. Recommended by Neva Talladen, editor of Embracing Layers Unapologetically, Daphne is no stranger to courageous conversations and has previously joined us on panel discussions around being child-free and child-less.

Raised in a Baptist church in Texas, Daphne grew up believing in sacrifice, obedience, and trusting God to provide. While she was a self-described rule follower, her natural curiosity often challenged the rigid expectations of church culture. That curiosity planted seeds of questioning about faith, identity, and whether there was more beyond what she had been taught.

Daphne shares how her divorce became her greatest act of self-care, freeing her from emotional and spiritual abuse. She speaks candidly about how her body physically responded with relief once she honored herself and chose safety, healing, and truth over societal and religious approval.

By sharing her story online, Daphne connected with thousands of women navigating similar struggles. This journey led to her upcoming book, God Loves Divorce, which challenges harmful religious narratives and opens space for compassionate, faith-centered conversations around divorce, autonomy, and healing. Daphne explores how leaving both her marriage and her church allowed her to find a supportive community aligned with her values.

Though she didn’t initially label her actions as self-care, Daphne reflects on how she had been practicing it all along by listening to herself, honoring her boundaries, and choosing authenticity. Her belief that self-care is community care underscores the impact of sharing our stories to help others heal.

We also discuss her podcast, Love Is A Trip, where she continues to explore love, faith, and life with honesty and humor. This episode is a testament to resilience, faith reconstruction, and the power of living life on your own terms.

Ways to Engage:
Reflect on traits you had as a child that you were encouraged to suppress. Were you told not to question, feel, or express yourself fully? Explore how reconnecting with those parts of yourself can help you live more authentically and out of your own expectations.

Resources:
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, support is available.
Call 800-799-7233 or text BEGIN to 88788 (National Domestic Violence Hotline).

#ReligiousTraumaRecovery
#SpiritualAbuseAwareness
#FaithDeconstruction
#HealingFromAbuse
#ChurchTrauma
#ChristianWomenPodcast
#WomenSupportingWomen
#GodLovesDivorce
#BreakingReligiousCycles
#EmotionalAbuseRecovery

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:10 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 21:01 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 29:54 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 35:42 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 42:54 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 51:16 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 52:20 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 1:01:10 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:03:34 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:10:03 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

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In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

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