Therapy for Religious Trauma & Deconstruction

 

 

  • You are in the process of deconstructing your experience of being part of a high control religion or group and could use support and guidance. 

  •  You are beginning to realize that your fears of something terrible happening, disconnections from your body, shame, perfectionism, people pleasing - to only name a few - are connected to your experiences in a high control religion. 

  • You have struggled with being a “late bloomer” and feel behind those around you and cannot figure out why. 

  • Many parts of your identity were formed by the teachings and beliefs of a high control religion and now that you are questioning what you were taught - it is difficult to know who you really are and to find a sense of safety in the world around you. 

  • Whether you spent time in a high control religion during your childhood, teen years or as an adult you experienced harm and are now struggling with making sense of your experience

Religious trauma is defined as “The physical, emotional, or psychological response to religious beliefs, practices, or structures that is experienced by an individual as overwhelming or disruptive and has lasting adverse effects on a person’s physical, mental, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.” Definition from The Religious Trauma Institute


It really helps to have a therapist that has lived experience with the journey of healing from religious trauma. It is not something taught in most therapy textbooks or therapy training programs. I grew up in a high control religion from the age of 8 until 18. It was only in my mid 30’s that I learned the words religious trauma, deconstruction and that the impacts of my years growing up in a high control religion were connected to many of my struggles with my mental health.  It is possible to heal from religious trauma but it is hard to do alone. It is important to have support whether that be individual therapy or with support groups. I offer individual therapy and can also provide resources to alternative supports for working through religious trauma. You are welcome no matter where you are on your journey of healing and deconstruction. If you are still involved in a religious group and want to redefine your boundaries within a group or are trying to decide if you want to stay or go. Or if you left a high control group entirely recently or many years ago and are feeling ready to deconstruct your experiences. I am here to provide you the space and time to explore the impacts of religious trauma on your life and to begin the process of reclaiming parts of you that were lost along the way.