A Safe, Supportive Space to Reconnect with Yourself

I help people who have been harmed in religious systems reclaim their inner worlds.

We are growing in our understanding of the reality and impact of religious trauma.

The difficulties faced by those who have experienced religious trauma track with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD. It can lead to a range of challenges as survivors navigate life: difficulty knowing and trusting one's self and others, challenges around identity and sense of self, heightened fearfulness in relating to life, difficulty making decisions and/or taking initiative toward personal wants and desires.

Many religious trauma survivors struggle with severe shame and guilt, having internalized a sense of self as bad/inherently flawed/problematic - and thus often have difficulty connecting with themselves (their bodies, their emotions, their thoughts and perceptions), as many religious systems cast the self as something not be trusted, known or relied upon.

This daily, human, earth-bound life can be tough to stay present in, much less embrace or enjoy, when a person has been taught their heart is deceitful and human life (often othered via terms like “the world”) is something to transcend rather than participate in.

You can read a description of religious trauma syndrome at https://www.journeyfree.org/rts/, written by psychologist Marlene Winell. Dr. Winell originated the term Religious Trauma Syndrome in 2011 and pioneered the work of beginning to name and understand the insidious harm in the coercive religious indoctrination that occurs in high-control religious systems, i.e. systems that include beliefs and practices that are fear-based, frame questions or doubt as moral failings, and isolate members from alternate perspectives — as differentiated from religious education or cultural teaching that presents beliefs openly, encourages exploration, welcomes questions, and does not use psychological control mechanisms to stifle critical thinking or individual development.

The path of recovery from religious trauma is unique for everyone, but for most people, inner work focused on healing from the impact of these type of high-control environments leads to greater autonomy, increased capacity for personal agency and self-trust, a felt sense of worthiness, healthier self-esteem, and deeper capacity to experience inner peace and freedom.

Recovering from high control religion is a journey I’m on myself. In my own inner work, integrating greater capacity to be present with myself feels like a deep kind of maturing. Having the opportunity to witness and support a similar (but unique for each person) process in others has only fortified my belief that learning to be with ourselves and with each other in open-hearted, safe, welcoming, patient and respectful ways IS how we heal. Religious trauma occurs in a relational context, so being received in one’s authenticity in a relational context can be a profoundly corrective experience.

I use the term integrative coaching for the kind of interpersonal support I provide for clients. Sessions are designed to be a safe, relationally-oriented container for your own self-led process.

A Trauma-Informed Approach

I work from a trauma-informed lens. This means I have understanding and awareness of the impact of trauma, I’ve been trained in recognizing signs of trauma, and I prioritize creating an environment of safety, transparency, collaboration and empowerment. The goal is always to prevent re-traumatization and support healing and recovery.

While sessions are not psychotherapy, my decade-plus of experience as a mental health clinician is an important part of the background I bring to my work.

My training and ongoing work in the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) has been significant in my own development and informs how I work with clients. You can read more about NARM, as well as additional trainings and credentials, on the FAQs page.

Session Details

Sessions take place online (over Zoom) and are 55–60 minutes in length. The fee is $150 per session.