“Spiritual trauma is learning that it is so so good to believe you are so so bad”
— Dr. Hillary McBride
My story
More than any degree, certification or training, what I find most religious trauma survivors want to know about me is simply this: I get it. Growing up evangelical in the bible belt led me to both participate in, and eventually grow to perpetuate, many tenants of high control religion. I attended the multiple weekly church services, revivals, purity conferences, etc. I became the camp counselor and attended the Christian college. I know the pressure that comes with fitting the evangelical mold, and I also know how devastating it feels when it all falls apart.
The process
I have spent years learning more about the impact of high control religion, adverse religious experiences (ARE’s), spiritual trauma, religious and cult abuse. Religion intrinsically impacts the way you view yourself, others, and the world; meaning it has a unique way of causing harm when utilized in an unhealthy way.
Throughout my own journey, I recognized the lack of resources for those exploring deconstruction, reconstruction, or deconversion from religion, and found that many of the resources available were often heavily biased. Pastors cared that I kept my faith exactly the same, podcasters lamented that religion was entirely bad, and books emphasized the importance of reconstruction after deconstruction. But which path is right? And, more than that, how do you discern which path is right for YOU?
The work
As a Certified Religious Trauma Counselor, this is where my work begins. My goal is to offer you a non-biased, non-judgmental space to explore matters of faith & spirituality without mandating that healing must look a certain way. Some clients find their way back to spirituality, while others find peace & empowerment through atheism. I care much less about where you end up, and much more about how you end up there.
In our work together, we will begin to untangle harmful beliefs internalized from religion (e.g., sex is bad, god is mad at me all the time), identify symptoms resulting from religious trauma (anxiety, shame, self-blame, etc), clarify instances of spiritual harm & indoctrination, prioritize embodiment, and so much more.
The impact
Religion is so powerful because it meets many of our core human needs, such as those for belonging, certainty, and control. As such, it makes sense that the loss of religion creates deep wounds within us— but hope is not out of reach. It is brave of you to consider beginning this work. Click the button below to request more info about getting started.