The Wounded Heart:
Hope for Adult Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse
by Dr. Dan B. Allender
Overview
Few books have shaped the landscape of Christian trauma care as deeply as The Wounded Heart. In this seminal work, Dr. Dan Allender gives language to experiences that for too long were forced into silence. Drawing from decades of clinical and theological insight, he examines the lasting effects of childhood sexual abuse and the complex journey toward healing.
Rather than offering tidy steps or quick solutions, Allender invites readers into the slow, honest work of engaging their story—naming both the depth of harm and the greater depth of God’s redemptive love. The book combines psychological clarity with spiritual realism, helping readers understand that healing is not about erasing the past but allowing Christ to enter it with truth and tenderness.
Why We Recommend It
The Wounded Heart remains one of the most trusted resources for counselors, pastors, and survivors alike because it bridges professional trauma understanding with deeply rooted faith. Allender doesn’t shy away from hard realities: the patterns of shame, secrecy, and relational pain that often follow abuse. But through that honesty, he leads readers toward hope that is both theologically rich and psychologically sound.
This book models what it means to bear witness—to sit with pain, to name evil for what it is, and to believe that God’s mercy is stronger still. It invites people-helpers to listen without fear and to guide survivors not toward “getting over it,” but toward genuine freedom and restored intimacy with God and others.
This title is also featured in our show notes for Season 6: “Bearing Witness,” on the Safe to Hope podcast.
Key Takeaways
-
Healing begins when we stop minimizing harm and start telling the truth.
-
Forgiveness is never denial—it’s a movement toward freedom that honors justice.
-
Trauma fragments the heart, but God’s love invites every part of us back into communion.
-
True redemption does not erase the story; it transforms how the story is told.
-
Safe community and wise accompaniment are essential for recovery.
About the Author
Dr. Dan B. Allender is a therapist, author, and co-founder of The Allender Center at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. His decades of work have pioneered a narrative-focused approach to trauma and abuse recovery, integrating biblical truth with clinical insight.
Who It’s For
Counselors, pastors, and advocates walking with survivors of sexual abuse, as well as survivors themselves who long for a hope-filled, biblically grounded path toward healing.
As an Amazon Associate, Help[H]er may earn from qualifying purchases. We only recommend books we genuinely value and use in our work. Link to purchase.
