I recently connected with Morgan Piercy, LPC in the Kansas City metro area as we discussed our shared passion for supporting those who have experienced harm within religious or spiritual communities. Morgan owns Deconstruction Counseling and provides services in-person in Olathe, KS and via telehealth throughout Kansas.
She asked me to write a guest post for her blog taking a look at some of the ways that neurodivergence can be viewed as sin within certain religious communities and the impacts this can have on neurodivergent folks.
From my guest post:
“The term “neurodivergent” was coined by Kassiane Asasumasu in 2000 to describe having a brain that functions in ways that diverge for the dominant societal standards of what is considered “normal” or typical within a particular culture or group. While “neurodivergent” is often used as shorthand for ADHD and/or Autism, the term is actually inclusive of all the ways a person’s brain function may diverge from the societal norm.”
“Many religious or faith communities have their own particular social norms and expectations. Fundamentalist and high-control religions value conformity to the group’s rules and may label anything outside of those rules as “evil” or “sinful.” For a neurodivergent individual, this can create a perfect storm of confusion, judgement, and harm.”
You can read the full blog post here.
Michelle F. Moseley (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in NC (#12491). She believes ALL people deserve respect, compassion, and access to mental and physical healthcare. Michelle specializes in working with survivors of religious trauma, and with those who have body image concerns, finding there is frequent overlap in these areas. She also frequently supports late-identified neurodivergent individuals as they navigate the grief and relief of a new understanding of self. You can learn more about Michelle by visiting her website at MichelleFMoseley.com or following her on Instagram – @therapy_with_michelle
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