Leaving, Learning, & Living

Religion and spritual practice can be healthy and a source of comfort for many people, but for others, it can be traumatic. I specialize in helping individuals who have experienced trauma due to their involvement in high-demand, high-control religious groups. Many former members of these groups struggle with trauma-related difficulties even after leaving, such as hyper-vigilance, trust issues, decision-making challenges, nightmares, panic, OCD, claustrophobia, confusing boundaries, and difficulty being in groups. I am skilled at identifying whether a diagnosis, such as OCD, is true OCD, or is a result of hyper-scrupulosity or extreme vigilance rooted in learned behavior.

Leaving a group can be extremely difficult. It may involve significant losses, including deep spiritual connections, community, belonging, mission, and social relationships; a loss of security and increased feelings of vulnerability. Psychotherapy provides evidence-based interventions to improve coping capacity and reduce related psychological difficulties. Offering psycho-education to help clients understand the experiences they underwent, who they are, and find what they need to safely connect to others is a specialty of this practice. 

While knowledge of this kind of trauma is increasing, the field is still sparsely populated with therapists who can understand the implications and difficulties of what it means to be a survivor of this kind of experience from the inside out. I know from experience that individuals can reclaim their lives, achieve successful self-development connections, and, if they wish, find balanced and healthy spiritual practice. I strive to provide a safe and understanding space for survivors of religious trauma to heal and move forward.