Christian safeguarding experts are launching a study, which is not limited to abuse survivors, to investigate things like church leaders unfairly using their authority to manipulate others.
Executive Director of Safeguarding at the Churches' Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS), Justin Humphreys (pictured above), described spiritual abuse as a "hidden" problem.
Speaking with Premier, he also said: "The research is just seeking to dig into that deeper, so that we can develop our understanding of the issue.
"We've been hearing over recent years more and more accounts of people who tell us that they believe they have been spiritually abused or they're concerned spiritually abusive practices occur within their church or Christian community."
CCPAS is teaming up with researchers at Bournemouth University in Dorset to examine the extent of spiritual abuse, levels of awareness and measures which can be taken to tackle it.
Hundreds of people have already taken part.
CCPAS says key indicators of spiritual abuse include coercive or controlling behaviour, misusing scripture, and removing choice or using spirituality to assert control over another person.
Justin Humphreys added: "We do need to really raise awareness of the Church that there are these sorts of behaviours taking place, that they can be extremely damaging to people and that there are many people who would - for want of a better word - be suffering in silence because they really don't know what to do about it, or even if anything can do done about it."
The survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/TVKXCWB and remains open until 30 March 2017.
Click here to listen to Premier's Alex Williams speaking with Justin Humphreys: