Mendenhall Lecture Series

Holy Hurt: Understanding Spiritual Trauma & the Process of Healing, with Dr. Hillary L. McBride

Sunday, February 2nd, 2025 - 6pm

Gobin Church (307 Simpson St, Greencastle)

Free and open to the public

Too often the institutions and communities that are meant to be the most holy in our lives end up deeply hurting us. Clinical psychologist Hillary L. McBride sends a sincere and profound message: spiritual trauma is real and impacts us all. She also reassures us that we can remake ourselves and heal in its aftermath. McBride expertly and compassionately shows that acknowledging the impact of spiritual trauma in our lives allows us to begin to repair our wounds individually and collectively, experiencing reconnection with ourselves and others.

Hillary L. McBride (PhD, University of British Columbia) is a registered psychologist, an award-winning researcher, and the former host of the Other People's Problems and the Holy/Hurt podcasts. She has a private practice in Victoria, British Columbia, and is a sought-after speaker and retreat leader. McBride is the author of The Wisdom of Your Body, Practices for Embodied Living, and Mothers, Daughters, and Body Image. Her work has been recognized by the American Psychological Association and the Canadian Psychological Association. 

In addition to the lecture, we are also hosting a separate movement event same day (February 2nd), which we highly encourage you to attend--"Form and Space" at 1:30pm at the Prindle Institute for Ethics (2961 W County Rd. 225 South, Greencastle, IN). It is a free event, but advance registration is required (and we have a limited number of slots)--you can reserve a space, here. 

This event is about creating the space to step outside of the ways of being a body that are structured, familiar, and prescribed, to tune into our bodily voice, and practice moving in a way that feels authentic, giving unexplored or unexpressed places inside of us form through our movement and words. When what is inside of us moves into the space around us, we can begin to encounter the stillness that lives inside.

The two hours will consist of free movement (ecstatic dance), writing, and group sharing. For those of you new to free-movement, the purpose of this is choice and bodily autonomy while engaging with movement to play, express, and experience your bodily wisdom. You get to choose how you want to move your body. If that means laying down and listening to the music, connecting to your wild self, or waltzing your inner critic back and forth, all of it is just as it should be. This is a space for you to practice moving how you want to move, and then have time to write and verbally integrate the experiences you have. Writing and dialogue prompts for integration will be offered.

Please bring some water, your journal and a pen, and wear loose clothing to move in with layers to remove as you warm up. We will be moving with shoes off.

Thanks so much to our wonderful DePauw Counseling Services for partnering with us to make this all possible!