Blog
5 Things Normalized in High-Control Religion That Are Actually Toxic
High-control religion often normalizes public shaming, forced confession, thought policing, and spiritual control. Here are 5 toxic patterns that impact religious trauma survivors long after they leave.
Religious Trauma and the Myth of Instant Transformation
Religious trauma recovery is rarely dramatic. If you were taught transformation happens in a moment, slow healing can feel like failure. Here’s why it isn’t.
How Religious Trauma Survivors Heal: Patterns I See Again and Again as a Therapist
Healing from religious trauma isn’t just about changing beliefs—it’s about practical steps you can take. Discover patterns survivors follow to reconnect with their body, build supportive community, reclaim play, and create personal rituals that restore agency and safety.
Why a Religious Trauma Therapist Won’t Tell You What to Do (And Why That’s Actually the Point)
Many religious trauma survivors feel anxious when their therapist won’t tell them what to do. This post explains why—and how therapy helps rebuild self-trust after high-control religion.
3 Ways Religious Trauma Survivors Minimize Their Trauma
Many survivors of religious trauma minimize what they went through. Here are three common ways this shows up—and why it makes healing harder.
It’s Okay If You’re Not Grateful This Thanksgiving: Healing from Religious Trauma
Not feeling grateful this Thanksgiving? For survivors of religious trauma, honoring your true emotions is part of the healing process. Here’s why it’s okay to feel what you feel this holiday season.
When a Simple Mistake Feels Like a Sin: Healing After Religious Trauma
When you grow up in high-control religion, even small mistakes can feel like proof that you’re bad or broken. This post explores how religious trauma warps your relationship with being human — and what it looks like to relearn the simple “oops.”
Healing from Religious Trauma: Learning to Center Yourself as the Main Character in Your Story
Feeling like a supporting character in your own life after years of religious control is common — and healable. In this post I share what it looks like to center yourself as the main character: how to recognize faith-based messages that minimized you, small practical steps toward reclaiming your story, and compassionate guidance for survivors of spiritual abuse and purity culture.
What Is Religious Trauma?
Religious trauma happens when fear, shame, or control within a faith community cause lasting harm. Learn the signs and how healing is possible.
Religious Trauma and Loneliness: What Survivors Need to Know
Loneliness is one of the most painful parts of religious trauma. This post explores why faith deconstruction can feel so isolating — and what survivors need to know about healing.
The Harmful Legacy of James Dobson — And What Religious Trauma Survivors Need to Hear Now
James Dobson shaped evangelical culture, and his harmful teachings on sex, purity, and gender left many survivors with shame and trauma. Here’s how to understand that legacy and begin healing.
Finding Yourself After Religious Trauma: A Roadmap to Healing
Leaving a high-control religion can leave you questioning who you are. This post explores how to reclaim your identity, set boundaries, nurture self-compassion, and rebuild trust—offering a roadmap for healing after religious trauma."
5 Things Religious Trauma Survivors Secretly Think (And Rarely Say Out Loud)
Discover the secret thoughts many religious trauma survivors have but rarely voice. Validation, understanding, and healing start here.
“Pray the Gay Away” (and Other Bullsh*t That Gave You Anxiety and Depression)
What happens when being loved by your church means hiding who you are? This post explores the connection between queer identity, spiritual shame, and mental health.
The Devil Is in the Details…or the Drums…or…Everything? How High-Control Religion Creates Spiritual Paranoia
If you were taught the devil could be lurking in everything—from music to your own thoughts—you’re not alone. This blog explores how high-control religion creates spiritual paranoia, and how survivors of religious trauma can begin to unlearn that fear.
When Faith Tells You Your Feelings Are a Problem: Untangling Emotional Shame from Religious Trauma
Growing up in high-control religion, I was taught that emotions like anger and sadness were sinful. This post explores how those beliefs impact survivors—and how healing can begin.
5 Things Religious Trauma Survivors Say in Therapy (That You Might Relate To)
If you’ve ever wondered whether your experience “counts” as religious trauma, or you’ve felt like no one would understand, this post is for you.
When Following God’s Will Means Losing Yourself: A Religious Trauma Therapist Explains
If seeking “God’s will” meant losing touch with what you want, you’re not alone. A religious trauma therapist explores the cost of obedience and how to reclaim your voice.
Freedom, But Only If You Obey: The Catch-22 of High-Control Religion
You were promised “freedom in Christ,” but only if you obeyed without question. In this post, I explore the spiritual catch-22 of high-control religion — and what real freedom actually feels like.
Faith Deconstruction: What It Is and What Comes Next
Faith deconstruction isn’t rebellion — it’s a valid response to spiritual harm or misalignment. Here’s what it is, why it happens, and how to cope.