“It’s the same playbook”: Abuses of Power
“It’s the same playbook!” I recently found myself saying this during a discussion regarding an ongoing incident among folks within the exvangelical community. First, some backstory for those who may…
Spiritual Abuse Tactics (My Lived Experience)
One of the most prominent factors in spiritual abuse is the misuse of spiritual power to control. Survivors of spiritual abuse may describe their experience as feeling like their life…
January is Spiritual Abuse Awareness Month
January is Spiritual Abuse Awareness Month. I first became aware of this term around 2015, but the first use of “spiritual abuse” as a term with a distinct definition dates…
What Can Wicked Teach Us About Religious Trauma?
Wicked, the movie based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, released Part 1 in theaters on November 22nd, 2024, and it has taken the world by storm. I have loved…
FEATURED: You Need a Counselor Podcast
I was recently invited to be a guest on the You Need a Counselor Podcast. This podcast is the work of Heart and Solutions, located in Iowa, and is designed…
What’s Gender Got To Do With It? (Religious Trauma Edition)
Religious harm - injury that has a root in religious systems, beliefs, or practices - can take many forms. Some folks experience physical or sexual harm that is perpetrated by…
The Complexity of Grief
Grief is the response you have to the loss of something or someone important to you. Grief may include intense emotional pain, a sense of anguish, questioning, rage, and any…
The “Queen” of Healing from High-Control Religion?
Is proclaiming the title “queen” in relation to your work with folks healing from religious trauma a reenactment of the same toxic power dynamics that lead to harm in high-control…
What is Moral Injury?
Have you ever felt a sense of guilt after participating in an action? You may have questioned how you even ended up in the situation that led to you acting…
FEATURED: Podcast Guest – Diet Culture, Purity Culture, & Disconnection from Our Bodies
I was recently invited to chat with Kari Fillian, host of the Your Friend the Therapist Podcast, about my work with religious trauma and body image concerns. Season 2 of…