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April 24, 2025 27 mins
Breaking Free from Religious and Sexual Abuse with Beth Brunk
How Beth Brunk Found Strength and Empowerment Beyond Trauma


Beth Brunk shares her story of surviving over two decades of mental, sexual, financial, and religious abuse within her marriage. She opens up about the toll it took on her and her children, breaking away after a crisis. Beth now supports women healing from sexual betrayal through her coaching and programs, empowering them to reclaim their lives.



What you’ll learn


Understand the complex layers of abuse within marriage, including religious control.


Learn how to reclaim self-worth and set boundaries after sexual betrayal.


Recognize the impact of abuse on parenting and personal presence with children.


 


Timestamped overview

00:00:00 Introduction


00:01:38 Life in abuse felt like survival mode, struggling with presence and trauma


00:02:51 Religious abuse from spouse and faith community pressures


00:06:21 Marriage as an idol in churches, sometimes placed above safety


00:09:05 Beth currently focuses on a healthy relationship with herself


00:10:27 Pivotal moment: oldest son was choked, triggering decisive action


00:12:01 Her former spouse's therapy failed to bring real change or accountability


00:18:00 Beth offers coaching to women betrayed by spouses’ sexual behaviors


00:19:02 Program helps calm intrusive thoughts, set boundaries, and cultivate gratitude


00:26:15 Contact info and encouragement to find strength beyond betrayal


 


Beth Brunk's bio

I am a believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I see His hand in everything around me, and in my life experiences. I give HIM all the glory, praise and honor for the healing, from sexual betrayal trauma, He has brought to me through different modalities. After being in an abusive marriage riddled with pornography addiction, sexual abuse, and blatant lies, I wanted my pain to end. The tightness in my chest to ease so I could take a deep breath. The physical pain in my heart to dissipate and for whirling, swirling thoughts to vanish. I wanted the pain of 23 years of trickle disclosure to go away. I wanted the pain I had been carrying since our wedding night, when he raped me then rolled over and went to sleep, to disappear. I wanted the horror of watching my new husband masturbate on our honeymoon to fade away. I wanted the trauma of being raped by my husband numerous times over the years, to evaporate. I don’t believe that we can be fully healed in this life, we are human, and full healing will come later. However, I am fully convinced that the Bible teaches us to continue to work on healing and breaking generational strongholds, agreements and curses. I do the work daily. I now have the energy to get through my day without a nap. I have freedom in my thoughts, no more swirling thoughts and all that pain is dissipated! Living Beyond Broken is living a life that is thriving and abundant in all the right ways!!


 


Connect with Beth Brunk

On her website: https://bethbrunk.com


On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beth.anne.brunk 


On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethbrunkcoaching 


Contact by email: coach@bethbrunk.com 


 



 


About the host and the podcast
Learn more about and connect with Gemma Serenity Gorokhoff, the host of Real Talk Real Women Breaking the Silence Around Abuse 

https://gemmaserenity.com 


 


Do you care about getting featured on this podcast? 

Apply here: https://apply.realtalk-realwomen.com 


 


Support the podcast and its mission; become a sponsor or a supporter:

Learn more here: https://sponsors.realtalk-realwomen.com


 


Original speaker page with pictures:

https://www.realtalk-realwomen.com/e/breaking-free-from-religious-sexual-abuse-beth-brunk 



Get full access to Gemma’s Gem at gemmasgem.substack.com/subscribe
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