AUGUSTA – An internationally recognized expert on trauma treatment will lead a team of eight helping professionals in a special retreat Aug. 16-18 to work with survivors of clergy abuse and their families.

The retreat, titled “Restoration, Reconciliation and Renewal: Healing Spiritual Trauma,” is expected to draw survivors of clergy abuse and those deeply affected by the clergy crisis throughout Maine, New England and across the country.

Kate Hudgins, a clinical psychologist who has worked with hundreds of survivors of sexual and physical abuse in the past 20 years, will bring her model of team treatment, which involves drama, art and other exercises to heal.

She is founder of Therapeutic Spiral International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to training professionals to treat trauma, and author of the newly published book “Experiential Therapy for PTSD: The Therapeutic Spiral Model.”

In a news release, she said that all survivors of trauma face some sort of spiritual disconnection in addition to psychological pain. Yet recovery is possible. “When the fear is faced, words can be spoken and feelings can be expressed. Even the betrayal and horror of sexual abuse can be repaired,” she said.

The retreat is being organized by Katherine Amsden, a clinical social worker and psychotherapist who has worked in Maine for more than 20 years. It will take place at the St. Paul Retreat and Conference Center in Augusta; although the program is not connected with the Roman Catholic Church, people who are interested may want to approach their local diocese for scholarship money to attend.

More information is available by calling Amsden at 777-1508 or Therapeutic Spiral International, based in Charlottesville, Va., at (434) 923-8290 or www.therapeuticspiral.org.