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.

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.

High control religion often teaches that suffering is either your fault—or somehow makes you more holy. In this post, I share how those beliefs shaped my own story and how they show up in therapy with religious trauma survivors. If pain has ever felt like something you deserved, you're not alone—and you're not beyond healing.