Religious Trauma: Therapy for Spiritual Wounds and Growth

Do you struggle with any of these concerns?

Constant striving and perfectionism

Feelings of shame and self-hatred

Relentless inner critic reminding you of what you “should” think/feel/do

Feelings of loneliness and isolation

Lack of a strong sense of identity

Difficulty with boundaries or fear of speaking out

People Pleasing

Emotional distress

Low self-esteem

Feelings of insecurity

Anxiety/fear/PTSD

Depression/feeling down or low

Disconnection from your community of origin

Disenfranchisement or discrimination because of an aspect of your identity

Existential fears and doubts

Grief and loss

Have you grown up in or participated in a religious environment, school, or family? These concerns are quite common for many folks who have been negatively impacted or harmed by religion or a spiritual community. They can be considered symptomatic of religious harm or trauma.

What exactly is religious or spiritual harm/abuse/trauma?

I'll define it here as harm/abuse/trauma that occurs within and by a religious system, doctrine, or spiritual community.

Dr. Alyson Stone defines religious trauma as pervasive psychological damage resulting from religious messages, beliefs, and experiences. (There are plenty more definitions out there, and there is immense value in the distinctions found within a specific definition, but for the sake of where we’ll go in this newsletter, we’ll go with this one.) While we often think of trauma as a single, severe experience that wounds us, religious trauma can often be much more chronic and undetectable.

How Religious Trauma Develops Over Time

“Unlike many forms of trauma that occur through acute incidents, religious trauma generally accrues gradually through long-term exposure to messages that undermine mental health.” (Stone, 2013).

The Role of Therapy in Healing Spiritual Wounds

Many people don’t think of therapy as a place to go with spiritual wounds, existential concerns, or religious questioning. Within the religious environment I was raised in, seeking counsel from a secular source was considered dangerous and threatening to one’s faith. Yet I believe therapy offers us many tools for effectively navigating these parts of ourselves and our lives.‍

Therapy can help us develop greater insight and awareness into how we have been shaped by our past experiences, lessen the symptoms encountered by unresolved trauma, and help us learn tools for moving forward in ways that are more wholly aligned with our values and authentic self.

Therapy is not anti-religion or anti-spiritual.

In fact, many individuals who tend to their religious trauma may find their spirituality enlivened and may choose to become more active within their belief system.‍

Therapy is anti-harm.

And it is my belief that religion and spiritual communities should be as well. Sadly, we know that this is not often the case.

If this is resonating with you, and you’d like to read more about this topic in future newsletters or explore how therapy can help you find relief from these or other symptoms, I invite you to fill out my contact form on my website. I’d love to hear from you, as always, and welcome your thoughts, ideas, questions, and requests!‍

P. S.

‍I’m currently interested in forming a therapy group for individuals who are looking to connect meaningfully with others to support one another’s healing from religious trauma. If this sounds interesting to you, please let me know! I’d love to hear from you about what comes up for you at the idea of being a part of a group like this - fears, ideas, excitement, resistance - anything and everything.You can reply to this email, or fill out the contact form on my website here: https://www.katiewebbpsychotherapy.com/

‍Until next time,

‍katie

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