Religious Trauma to Resilience
Have You Ever Been Told You Have to Choose Between Your Faith and Who You Truly Are?
For countless LGBTQIA+ individuals, religion is more than a source of spiritual guidance; it’s often a cause of deep and enduring pain. Faith communities that preach condemnation, enforce exclusion, or demand strict adherence to rigid gender and sexual norms create environments steeped in guilt, rejection, and fear. Many of us are taught from a young age that our identities are sinful or disordered. This experience is not just harmful—it can be life-altering. Studies have shown that LGBTQIA+ individuals raised in conservative religious communities face higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, driven by rejection and the internal conflict between faith and identity.
This painful reality was the focus of my recent conversation on the LezBeFriends podcast with Jocelyn. Together, we didn’t shy away from naming the wounds inflicted by harmful religious teachings, but we also aimed to offer ways to challenge and heal them. As a therapist with an AM in Theology, I bring both professional expertise and lived experience to this discussion. Jocelyn and I explored how religious trauma goes beyond surface-level emotional pain—it cuts to the core of a person’s self-worth, identity, and relationships.
Reclaiming Self-Worth and Challenging Harmful Beliefs
Take “Maria,” a composite client whose story mirrors the journeys of many I’ve worked with. Raised in a deeply devout community, she was taught that her same-sex attraction made her inherently sinful. Maria prayed fervently to change, suppressing her true self and living with constant anxiety and fear of being exposed. It wasn’t until Maria began to question these teachings and seek support outside of her religious circle that healing became possible. Through therapy, we worked together to challenge the cognitive distortions she had internalized, helping her see herself as inherently worthy of love and acceptance.
Healing religious trauma is about reclaiming your sense of self. It often involves reframing oppressive beliefs and creating new, affirming narratives. Jocelyn and I shared practical strategies for this journey: exposure therapy to address fears of divine punishment, cognitive restructuring to dismantle harmful messages, and finding community support networks that offer validation and connection. Healing is hard work, but it is possible—and no one has to walk it alone.
Why This Matters for Our Community
The stakes are incredibly high. LGBTQIA+ individuals subjected to religious trauma are at a higher risk of developing PTSD, substance abuse issues, and even suicidal behavior. Isolation is common, especially when leaving a high-control religious group. Approximately 28% of individuals who leave such groups report symptoms consistent with PTSD. Yet there is hope, and it often begins with breaking the silence around these experiences.
In our podcast conversation, Jocelyn and I discussed the power of finding new, supportive communities—whether they are secular spaces or affirming religious groups—that allow individuals to reconnect with themselves and others. “James,” another composite client, found healing by joining an LGBTQIA+ affirming faith group, which helped him reconcile his spirituality and identity. For him, and for many like him, moving from fear-based beliefs to an understanding rooted in love and self-acceptance was transformative.
领英推荐
Join Us on the LezBeFriends Podcast
If you’ve ever struggled to reconcile your identity with your faith or felt rejected by the very community meant to uplift you, you’re not alone. Our conversation is for you. It’s about breaking down isolation, finding paths to healing, and reclaiming your power and your story. You deserve to live authentically, without shame or fear.
Tune in to the LezBeFriends podcast for a raw, real conversation that goes beyond the pain and celebrates the possibility of healing and growth.
If you’re ready to explore your own path to healing or need support, I’m here for you. Connect with me.
Have a story, a struggle, or a triumph to share? Let’s continue the conversation. Together, we can create spaces where every journey is honored and healing thrives.
#LGBTQIA #ReligiousTrauma #HealingTogether #QueerVoices #TherapistLife #LezBeFriendsPodcast #SelfCompassion #Empowerment #AnnRusso #HopeAndHealing #Authenticity #CommunitySupport