Faith Crisis, Deconstruction, Spiritual Abuse, and Religious Harm/Trauma
For many, religion and spirituality are frameworks for how to live a good life, how to conceptualize pain, suffering and loss, and what gives us a sense of purpose, hope, and vitality. Religion often offers people a sort of container for values, structuring life trajectory and decision making based off of scripture and scriptural interpretation, authority of spiritual leaders, communion with deity, and the standards/commandments of the faith.
Navigating the dissonance and pain of doubt, deconstruction, and understanding what happened to you can feel like you are emerging from an entirely different reality…and like everything you have found safety and solace in is crumbling or unsteady.
Whether you have left an orthodox or evangelical religion, are questioning your faith, or have experienced religious trauma or spiritual abuse, you have likely endured some of the most confusing and painful emotions of your life.
Our Work Together…
In our work together, we may focus on:
– Processing your Journey
– Increasing Differentiation of Self
– Emotional Literacy and Resilience
– Building Self Trust and Increasing Sense of Agency in Decision Making
– Reclaiming Purpose and Life Meaning
– Critical Thinking Skill Building
– Personalizing your Values
– Navigating “groundlessness”
– Boundary Setting and Communication Skill Training
– The Grieving Process
– Narrative Building
– Healing from any Religious Trauma or Spiritual Abuse
– Strengthening Relationships and Building Community
My Approach:
I approach your experience with cultural sensitivity and humility, respect for your personal values and religious/spiritual stances, and a gentle and compassionate atmosphere. My work is not anti-religious, but rather anti-abuse, anti-power/control, and anti-harm. I echo the values of Reclamation Collective as you seek for alignment with personal integrity and meaningful engagement with what is important to you.
Beyond clinical training as an LMFTA, I have addtional training from The Religious Trauma Institute and Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery. I like to integrate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (particularly Moral Injury where relevant), Narrative therapy, and Cognitive Processing Therapy.
I have experience in working with folks anywhere along the LDS spectrum (including Ex Mormons/LDS), Jehovah’s Witness, Pentecostal, and Seventh Day Adventist, as well as other evangelical/high demand religions and high control groups.
Faith Crisis/Faith Deconstruction
Many people experience shifts in their relationship to spirituality and religion in their lifetime, often more than once. These shifts may vary in intensity depending on (this list is not exhaustive):
– Level of indoctrination, orthodoxy, or fundamentalism
– Personalization/differentiation/flexibility within their faith
– Community factors, including local and overarching rhetoric on those who doubt, what truth is, life outside of religion, etc.
– Relationships (if these are enmeshed, can tolerate difference, etc.)
– Presence of spiritual abuse or trauma
– Personal Development and life experiences
– Being part of a marginalized population within the faith
What is Spiritual Abuse?
From ICSA:
Spiritual abuse, sometimes called religious abuse, results when individuals are deceived and or otherwise manipulated in ways that cause detrimental changes to core elements of the self, including one’s relationship to God, religious/philosophical beliefs, self-determination, and the capacity to think independently. Though often associated with cultic groups, spiritual abuse may also occur in mainstream denominations when pastors or others misuse their authority or when individuals violate the ethical boundaries of proselytizing or other kinds of influence situations.
Understanding Religious Trauma
From Religious Trauma Institute:
Religious Trauma: The physical, emotional, or psychological response to religious beliefs, practices, or structures that overwhelm an individual’s ability to cope and return to a sense of safety.
Adverse Religious Experiences: Any experience of a religious belief, practice, or structure that undermines an individual’s sense of safety or autonomy and/or negatively impacts their physical, social, emotional, relational, or psychological well-being.
