Discover a life untangled from past religious discord. Our therapists help create a nurturing space where you can bravely face religious trauma and start to heal. Religious trauma therapy isn’t about leaving religion or spirituality behind. It’s about embracing the freedom that comes from overcoming religious trauma and finding clarity and joy. Now offering therapy in Texas, California, and Florida.
Healing Religious Guilt, Shame, and Fear with Support in TX, CA & FL
The effects of religious trauma can last a lifetime if unaddressed. Do any of these ring a bell?
- Your experiences with religion caused you to carry guilt, shame, or fear
- You feel that there is something inherently, fundamentally “wrong” with you
- You sense that you missed out on certain developmental stages or life skills
- You were made to believe that you were wrong or bad for being who you are
- One or both of your parents said things like “God’s gonna get you for disobeying me”
These are signs of religious trauma. Over time, these hurtful experiences can pile up, turning into a heavy load of guilt, shame, and fear.
Religious Trauma is like a dark cloud that follows you, making life feel really hard and joy seem far away. It might cause nightmares, anxiety, or even a fear of abandonment. You might find it hard to trust others, especially those in religious or authority positions. Or maybe you feel lost, unsure about what you believe anymore.
You may also question your religious or spiritual beliefs. This is normal after going through traumatic experiences, but can still be unsettling. You may not know what you believe for some time. Related to this is addressing any parental religious abuse you may have endured that caused you to have a less positive view of religion or spirituality.
Religious Trauma Counseling is a way to sort through the hurt and find healing. At Destination Therapy in Houston, we understand how tricky this journey can be. That’s why we’re here to help you work through your pain, ease your burden, and clear your path forward.
Embrace a Life of Clarity and Contentment without Religious Trauma
Healing through Religious Trauma treatment is like opening the door to a new, more easeful life. Our warm and understanding therapists may be able to help you:
- Shed your fears, feel safe, and start to trust again
- Unpack religious abuse so you feel lighter and less burdened
- Build better bonds and form new, heartwarming connections with others
- Find your spiritual footing post-religious trauma while moving at your own pace
- Rediscover who you are by peeling away the layers of trauma that made you feel lost or confused
Religious Trauma Therapy is for you if you want to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your religious or spiritual identity, feel more confident in your new path, and move towards a place of healing. When you choose Destination Therapy, our therapists will help you build healthy coping skills to help manage symptoms of trauma and stress that may have stuck with you.
Every step forward is a step towards a life with peace, empowerment, and authentic connections. You’re not alone on this trek; we’re here supporting you every step of the way. Our therapists serve Texas, California, and Florida residents for religious trauma.
Meet Our Religious Trauma Therapist Tabitha Durr
Religious trauma healing requires an experienced guide. Our therapist Tabitha Durr is experienced in helping clients who are healing from religious trauma and is dedicated to helping you recover. Her expertise and understanding create a safe harbor for you to explore and heal your religious wounds.
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Tabitha knows what it takes to heal from the effects of religious trauma. With her clients, she uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). ACT helps you accept yourself, your past, and your thoughts, so you can move forward in life. CBT helps you recognize and change thought and behavior patterns that may not be serving you.
The bottom line: You’re in the hands of an experienced and compassionate expert when you come to Destination Therapy to heal religious trauma.
Tabitha’s rate is $170 per 50-minute session. Sessions are held weekly or bi-weekly to establish a strong foundation. As you progress and experience relief, the frequency of appointments will taper to suit your evolving needs.
Although we don’t accept insurance as a boutique practice, we’re committed to assisting you in affording therapy. If you wish to use your out-of-network benefits, we’ll help seek eligible reimbursement with your insurance company. Just mention this in your free consultation call with us and we’ll do the legwork.
Ready to turn the page to a new chapter of healing and self-discovery? Click the button below now, and take the first step toward a life of empowerment.
How It Works: Religious Trauma Therapy at Destination Therapy
If this all sounds new to you, don’t worry. It’s simple when you see it all laid out. Here’s how religious trauma therapy with Destination Therapy unfolds (in five gentle phases):
Building Trust: The initial sessions are all about you and Tabitha getting to know each other. Starting with a strong understanding is important for your healing work to begin. Expect Tabitha to listen a lot and ask a few thoughtful questions.
Setting Goals: Together, you’ll pinpoint what you wish to achieve through therapy. It’s about clarifying your destination, even if it seems a bit fuzzy now. You may still be stressed from your experiences, and that’s okay. Come as you are and receive support.
Exploring Your Story: Go into your experiences at a pace that feels right. Therapy is about unraveling your past experiences and safely processing the painful thoughts and emotions that have resulted.
Learning and Growing: Through discussions and reflections, you’ll learn to view your experiences with new lenses, nurturing self-compassion and understanding. You may even see others from your past in a new light.
Finding Peace: As you work through your experiences, you’ll find the empowerment to move ahead in life with hope and joy. Like all trauma, healing is gradual. We’re here to support you throughout your process, no matter how long it may take.
Identifying Your New Relationship with Religion/Spirituality: Many people find that they want to remain connected to their religion or spirituality after therapy. Healing can help you identify the parts of either that you want to keep, while releasing the parts that don’t serve you. You deserve to have a healthy relationship with religion and spirituality, plus the community that is often involved.
Starting therapy might feel like a big step. Please know that our Houston therapists are here to support you in healing, whether you need a therapist in Texas, California or Florida. Click the button below now to get started.
Religious Trauma FAQ
Can you have PTSD from church?
A growing number of people report feeling like they have PTSD from their experiences at a religious organization or house of worship. The symptoms of Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS) are comparable to those of complex PTSD. Though RTS isn’t yet a real diagnosis, it’s gaining attention and is being actively researched. If you think you may have RTS or so-called PTSD from church, please fill out the contact form above.
Is religious trauma a form of PTSD?
RTS isn’t currently a diagnosis in the DSM (the “big book of mental health disorders”). Nonetheless, RTS can look and feel like a version of PTSD or Complex-PTSD (C-PTSD). Due to the chronic nature that religious trauma often takes, the effects are cumulative and require the help of an expert to undo. Our therapists in Houston can help residents of Texas, California, and Florida via telehealth.
Can you heal religious trauma?
Healing religious trauma is possible with the right help. Simply having a therapist to talk to can go a long way. At Destination Therapy, our religious trauma therapist Tabitha Durr uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to treat RTS. ACT helps you accept yourself, your past, and your thoughts, so you can move forward in life. CBT helps you recognize and change thought and behavior patterns that may not be serving you. Reach out today to get started on the path to recovery from religious trauma.
Can you recover from religious trauma?
Religious trauma is more prevalent than you might suspect. To help you heal from this, it’s imperative that you seek the support and guidance of a licensed professional who specializes in trauma. They’ll be able to offer you effective treatment options, ensure you have strong coping mechanisms, and help you move forward in life.
How do I unpack religious trauma?
To unpack religious trauma, we strongly encourage you to find a trauma-informed therapist to work with. They’ll help you:
- Realize the extent of your religious trauma.
- Separate from the things from your experiences that have caused you the most harm.
- Set boundaries with religious acquaintances, friends, and family members to support your healing process.
- Embrace the loss of your former identity and make way for your emerging identity.
- Heal the parts of your self-esteem, identity, and development that may have been impacted by religious trauma.
- Support you throughout the process and help you stay an active participant in your healing and spiritual journey
Can you return to religious practices after therapy/healing?
You may want to stay connected to your religious or spiritual practices after your time in therapy. That’s totally okay! Some people simply want to find a new connection to their faith after coming to a place of healing. Religious trauma therapy isn’t about leaving religion or spirituality behind. It’s about healing any negative experiences and pain that cause you to have a challenging relationship with them. You’re at liberty to return to your previous practices if you want, and we encourage you to follow your heart in this regard.
For help with Religious trauma from a trauma-informed lens, please fill out the contact form above or call us at (346) 266-2912. You can also email us with the subject line “religious trauma help” at hello@thedestinationtherapy.com We’ll do our best to help in a timely fashion.