Spiritual Bypass vs Post Traumatic Growth- The Power of Accountability

In the world of healing and spirituality, there’s a fine line between using spiritual principles to grow and using them to avoid deeper work. This is where spiritual bypass and post-traumatic growth stand in stark contrast.

Spiritual bypass happens when we use spiritual concepts like forgiveness, love, or “everything happens for a reason”—to avoid facing hard truths. It’s a defense mechanism, a way to sidestep accountability, pain, and responsibility. It allows us to mask our wounds without truly healing them.

On the other hand, post-traumatic growth is the transformation that happens when we face our wounds head-on. It requires deep self-reflection, taking responsibility for the harm we’ve caused, and actively working to repair it. Growth isn’t just about healing ourselves; it’s about making amends where needed, changing our behaviors, and showing up differently in the world.

True healing means looking at where we’ve fallen short; not with shame, but with courage. It means apologizing when necessary, not just with words but with changed actions. It’s about doing the inner work so we don’t continue cycles of harm.

Healing isn’t just about finding peace; it’s about becoming a person who brings peace to others, too. When we stop bypassing and start taking accountability, that’s when real transformation happens.

Have you noticed the difference between bypassing and true growth in your own journey? Let’s talk.

Lisa Angelini, MAPC, LPC, ACCHT 

Holistic Psychotherapist and Coach

602-330-6378