Therapy for Religious Trauma & Spiritual Abuse
What Is Religious Trauma?
Religious trauma is the emotional, psychological, and spiritual distress that results from harmful religious experiences, particularly those rooted in fear, shame, control, or abuse.
Religious trauma and spiritual abuse often originate within high-control or authoritarian faith environments where questioning is discouraged, identity is suppressed, and obedience is prioritized over personal well-being.
This type of trauma can affect every area of life—relationships, self-worth, sexuality, decision-making, and even your sense of overall safety or morality. The effects can linger long after leaving the religion, often showing up as anxiety, depression, PTSD symptoms, or deep confusion about one’s spiritual identity and beliefs.
How Do I Know If I Need Therapy for Religious Trauma and Spiritual Abuse?
Here are some signs that online therapy for religious trauma and spiritual abuse might help:
• You were taught that your worth depends on obedience or “righteousness.”
You internalized the idea that love is conditional—that you have to earn approval by following strict rules or sacrificing parts of yourself.
• You feel shame around your body, sexuality, or identity.
If you were told that being gay, having sexual thoughts, or even dressing a certain way was “sinful,” you may carry deep guilt or confusion about who you are.
• You fear punishment or eternal damnation—even after leaving the religion.
High-control religious environments often instill fear-based thinking that’s hard to shake. You may intellectually reject certain beliefs but still feel haunted by anxiety or dread.
• You struggle with black-and-white thinking or fear of “getting it wrong.”
Spiritual abuse often teaches rigid thinking patterns—right vs. wrong, holy vs. sinful, in vs. out. This can impact how you make decisions or trust yourself as an adult.
• You were ostracized, excommunicated, or shunned.
Losing your community—especially when it’s tied to your faith—can cause intense grief, confusion, and identity loss.
• You experience anxiety, panic, or trauma symptoms when exposed to religious spaces or language.
Hearing certain hymns, scriptures, or sermons can trigger emotional flashbacks, even if you haven’t been part of that faith for years.
• You feel lost, angry, or spiritually disconnected.
Religious trauma can create a spiritual void. You may feel numb, angry, or unsure what you believe—or if you can believe in anything at all.
How Does Spiritual Abuse Play Into Religious Trauma?
What Do We Work On in Online Therapy for Religious Trauma and Spiritual Abuse?
Spiritual abuse is often the driving force behind religious trauma. It occurs when religious beliefs, texts, or leaders are used to manipulate, control, or harm others—often under the guise of righteousness or divine authority.
Victims may be told they are sinful, broken, or unworthy unless they conform or obey, and dissent is often met with shame, fear, or social exclusion.
Therapy helps survivors untangle this damage and rediscover a personalized and fulfilling relationship with themselves
In therapy for religious trauma, we can focus on:
Naming and understanding spiritual abuse and religious trauma
Processing grief, anger, and fear around your faith experience
Separating your identity from shame-based belief systems
Rebuilding your sense of worth, agency, and self-trust
Exploring new ways of relating to spirituality—or releasing it altogether
Working through family dynamics and community loss
Healing complex trauma tied to authority, control, or conditional love
Reclaiming your ability to make choices from intuition, not fear
Can I Heal Religious Trauma?
Religious trauma and spiritual abuse can leave you feeling unmoored—like your foundation has cracked and you don’t know what to believe anymore.
Healing doesn’t mean you have to reject everything. You hold the power to restructure your belief system to what feels authentic and genuine to you.
At Unstuck Therapy, we offer a safe, supportive space to explore it all. We aim to help you move from confusion to clarity, from guilt to self-trust, and from silence to empowerment. Contact us to schedule your free consultation today and take the first step toward healing.
Do you need online therapy for religious trauma and spiritual abuse?
Our team of compassionate, judgment-free online therapists is here to help! Call us at 303-860-2716 or send us a message with the contact form below. Our lead clinical psychologist, Dr. Linda Baker, will get in touch to discuss next steps!
Please note that we CANNOT currently accept patients in Alaska, California, Guam, Iowa, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
