Finding Freedom From Domestic Abuse

Nancy Murphy, the Executive Director of Northwest Family Life Learning and Counseling Center, talks about the domestic abuse she endured at the hands of her former husband. Joining her is Dr. Dan Allender.

Ten years into the marriage, Nancy decided it was time to leave the abuse routinely initiated by her husband. View Show Notes →
Nancy Murphy talks about the cycle of abuse many women endure and the fear and anger that often triggers the violence. View Show Notes →
Nancy Murphy talks about the domestic abuse she endured at the hands of her former husband. View Show Notes →

Meet Series Guests

Dan Allender

Dr. Dan B. Allender has pioneered a unique and innovative approach to trauma and abuse therapy over the past 30 years.  Central to Dr. Allender’s approach are the categories of Faith, Hope and Love and their converse betrayal, ambivalence, and powerlessness.  Through engaging these categories and in learning to identify them in one’s personal story, healing and transformation can occur by bridging the story of the gospel and the stories of trauma and abuse that mark so many.

Having received his Master of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary, Dr. Allender went on to earn his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Michigan State University. Dan taught in the Biblical Counseling Department of Grace Theological Seminary for seven years (1983-1989). From 1989-1997, Dan worked as professor in the Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling program at Colorado Christian University, Denver, Colorado. In 1997, Dan with a cadre of others founded The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology in order to train therapists and pastors to more effectively serve in the context of the 21st century. Dan served as President of The Seattle School from 2002-2009.

Dan continues to serves as Professor of Counseling Psychology at The Seattle School. He travels and speaks extensively to present his unique perspective on sexual abuse recovery, love & forgiveness, worship, and other related topics. Dan is the author of The Wounded Heart and The Healing Path and has co-authored several books with Dr. Tremper Longman (Intimate AlliesThe Cry of the SoulBold Love and Bold Purpose).

Nancy Murphy

Dr. Nancy Murphy serves as Executive Director of Northwest Family Life Learning and Counseling Center (NWFL). Since 1989, NWFL, a faith based non-profit agency based in Seattle, WA has been dedicated to assisting individuals and families in finding hope and healing when confronting the pain of domestic violence. This organization offers advocacy and support for abused women and children, a state-certified intervention program for batterers and prevention programs that include marital and pre-marital counseling, individual and couples counseling, workshops and training programs.

Nancy counts it a privilege to have been invited to speak, train, teach, write, counsel and mentor numerous projects for twenty years on all forms of violence against women including domestic violence and human trafficking locally and internationally. She teaches as an Adjunct Professor at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology (formerly Mars Hill Graduate School) and Bakke Graduate University. She volunteers at Esperanza, a community on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia to serve individuals and families in crisis. Her dedication to advocacy, peace and safety in the home permeates all aspects of her life.