Religious Trauma Therapy
Religious recovery therapy is geared towards providing specialized support for ex-members of high control religious groups such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormonism, among others.
While the doctrines of high control religions (often referred to as "cults") may vary, the underlying dynamics of these groups are often very similar. They usually demand absolute obedience, exerting high levels of control over the thoughts and actions of their members, penalizing doubt or independent thought, and often employ harsh excommunication tactics towards those who decide to leave.
As a former Jehovah's Witness, I have first-hand experience of the impact these organizations can have on one's well-being, and the challenges of those who are courageous enough to walk away. In addition to grieving the loss of community and family, former members face questions related to purpose and reintegration with the outside, and are often flooded with feelings of anger, sadness, regret and confusion.
Recovery therapy provides an opportunity to address these issues directly. Everyone starts and works at different places and paces, but often it begins with an initial period of grieving losses and expressing/processing difficult emotions, and inevitably transitions to the work of rebuilding your life, finding a new community and reconnecting with who you are when unencumbered by dogmatic restraints. In the process, you will take time to re-examine your values, embracing those which empower you and rewriting those which do not.
This process not only provides the space for tackling these challenges head on, but also offers the emotional and social support which is so often lacking when leaving groups. It can be immensely helpful for navigating the transition to the world beyond, learning how to survive and eventually thrive on your own.
About Therapy
Therapy provides an environment for us to explore our lives, plan, grow, play and heal. It is a safe space to speak HONESTLY, without filter or fear of judgement, which facilitates the process of connecting with our true selves, making meaning, and rewriting limiting beliefs and behaviors which do not serve us.
While I draw from a number of different modalities (eg. psychodynamic, CBT, narrative therapy), I strive to customize my approach to the unique needs of each client. Some benefit from an exploratory approach. This usually involves recounting one's story, leading to greater understanding of our current behavior/perspective, and giving us the opportunity to expand or even re-write the parts of our story which limit our ability to live fully. Other clients prefer an action oriented approach, which involves clarifying life goals, identifying barriers and creating/enacting a reasonable plan which will lead you to overcoming these challenges at a comfortable pace.
Over the course of my 15 years as a therapist, I have successfully used these tools to support people in finding power over issues related to depression, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma, low self esteem, motivation, organization and general "stuckness". If you struggle with any of these issues, I encourage you to schedule a free consultation so we can discuss how these methods can help you specifically.
CONTACT ME
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or comments you may have.
If you are interested in booking your free consultation, please use this link