When religion hurts, you need someone who understands.

Therapy for Religious Trauma in Providence, RI.

Serving all of MA, RI, and VT

 

Has this ever happened to you?

You’re sitting across from a friend trying to explain your experience. Maybe you’re talking about a religious book or movie series, explaining why you weren’t allowed to watch certain movies or play with certain toys, or trying to describe some of the things your religious leaders said. You are met with blank stares and confusion. You want to feel connected and understood, but talking about your religious upbringing just makes you feel more isolated and alone. 

Maybe your family wasn’t that conservative, but you still heard a lot of messages from church that felt harmful and confusing. Maybe there was a specific person in your church community that hurt you. Maybe you always feel guilty, never good enough, and unworthy of unconditional acceptance. Maybe you used to say and believe things you regret now, and you’re struggling to process the guilt. Maybe your faith is important to you, and you want to hold on to your Christian faith, but you don’t want to feel so much shame, confusion, and anxiety.

 And maybe, on top of all of this, your relationship with your body and food isn’t very good. Maybe your church had very strict ideas about what bodies should look like. Maybe you adhered to strict dietary restrictions that no longer serve you. Or maybe you spent so much time trying to follow your religious rules that you disconnected from yourself, and now it’s hard to feel present in your body. 

How I can help

I understand because I’ve been there. You want to talk about your experiences without having to present a PowerPoint just so your therapist can understand the language, beliefs, and culture of a Christian religious upbringing.

I also understand that even if your religious community didn’t seem conservative, it’s still possible that your community caused you harm. I’m ready to listen with an empathetic ear and help you heal. 

 Talking about religious trauma means centering your unique experience and journey while also placing it in context. While understanding that you are an individual who will heal in your own way, it’s important to understand that you are not alone, and there are many others who are feeling and experiencing exactly what you are. 

 Make peace with your past with the help of a therapist who understands.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • There is a strong connection between trauma and eating disorders because trauma leads to disconnection. However, I have found in my practice that many who experience religious trauma have unique beliefs about food that stem from their religious upbringing. While this looks different based on individual experiences, some of my clients express fear of being “gluttonous” in their recovery. Some people assigned female at birth received messages about what their bodies should look like and felt pressure to be small to appear more feminine. In addition to restoring their connection to themselves, therapy involves examining, unpacking, and challenging these beliefs.

  • Absolutely. I was raised in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and later was affiliated with Roman Catholicism. I also earned my Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Religious Studies before pursuing my Masters in Social Work. Like many people raised in Christianity, the journey in and out of different communities was not linear. I now identify as “spiritually private.” When working with clients, I share my own experiences only when it serves to strengthen the therapeutic relationship and create a sense of shared understanding.

  • I have found that my clients have been exposed to similar teachings regardless of denomination, but there are, of course, differences between communities. What is most important is listening to an individual client’s experience and centering their own story so they can make meaning of their experiences and heal.

  • Yes, but I likely will not have the same background and context I would have working with a client raised in a Christian community.

  • Completely leaving your faith is not necessary to heal. Each individual has different values, goals, and needs in healing. In our sessions, we will talk about setting boundaries, questioning beliefs and messages with a critical eye, and developing an internal sense of wisdom. None of this precludes practicing any faith, and I will support you in practicing Christianity if this is your wish.