It’s been almost 2 years since I had the opportunity to share my story on the Bodies Behind the Bus podcast. The story hasn’t changed, but some of the ways I choose to use my experience to support others have changed. So, this is an update to the original post with links to Bodies Behind the Bus and more information about my current roles supporting survivors of religious harm.
Bodies Behind the Bus (BBTB) is a podcast that was developed to create a space for survivors of spiritual abuse and religious trauma to reclaim our stories. The title is drawn from an infamous comment made by Mark Driscoll about being unconcerned about harm within religion and hoping that many bodies (i.e. people) were “run over by the bus” of his brand of high-control religion. I have been regularly listening to episodes for more than 3 years now, and have frequently felt a deep connection with some of the storytellers despite having never met them. I have also been grateful for the platform that Johnna and Jay, the hosts and both survivors themselves, have created and shared to allow survivors to share their stories. The process of recording with them is compassionate and built on autonomy and consent for how one’s story is presented.
You can subsribe to episodes on your favorite podcast platform, and follow along with BBTB on Instagram.
It was an increndible honor to be able to chat with Johnna and Jay during the recording process, and I have kept in touch with them since. The content of our conversations became the foundation of 2 podcast episodes, which I share below.
My Story (the first episode)
My own experience of spiritual abuse and religious trauma impacted every corner of my existence and literally changed the trajectory of my life. In my first chat with Johnna and Jay, I share details about my experience working in parachurch ministry, my forced termination from my ministry role, and the aftereffects of the abuse I experienced.
You can listen to that episode on your favorite podcast platform – look for “Ep. 46 – Michelle’s Story / USA / College Campus Ministry”
For your convenience, here are links to the episode on a few popular podcast platforms:
Where the Story Led (the second episode)
My 2nd conversation with Johnna and Jay was a discussion of how my experience navigating the years since leaving vocational ministry in 2013 has shaped my current role as a therapist. I shared my educational and professional journey to my current (at the time in 2023) role providing support to other survivors. I was also able to talk about what religious trauma is and some of the common ways it can show up in folks’ lives, as well as some recommendations for connecting with a mental health provider.
You can also listen to this episode on your favorite podcast platform – look for “Ep. 47 – Therapy After Religious Trauma with Michelle Moseley”
For your convenience, here are links to this episode on a few popular podcast platforms:
Want More?
Thanks for taking the time to read this post and listen to these podcast episodes. My hope continues to be that each survivor’s story that is shared helps to change the cultures that allow spiritual abuse to occur, allowing for more space for healthy, whole individuals to flourish.
If you find yourself looking for additional resources, check out the following lists for some options you may find helpful.
Looking for a Therapist?
If you are located in North Carolina and interested in working with me for therapy, you can contact me here. I offer a free, 15-minute virtual consultation chat to help determine if we might be a good fit for working together. In addition to individual therapy, I also offer a virtual group (open to folks in NC) which generally runs twice per year.
If you are located outside of NC or are looking for something different than what I offer, you can check out the following directories for therapists who have indicated they work with survivors of religious harm.
Reclamation Collective Therapist Directory / Empathy Paradigm Therapist Directory
Interested in Community or Group Support?
I facilitate a virtual therapy group, called Wounded By Faith, a few times each year. This group is open to adults (18+) who are located in NC. This 8-week covers a variety of topics related to understanding and healing from experiences of religious/spiritual harm. Learn more here
Other support group options include:
- Reclamation Collective Virtual Support Groups – These 10-week groups are facilitated by licensed mental health professionals, but are structured as community support rather than therapy. There are generally a variety of groups that run 3 times per year (beginning around January, June, and September of each year).
- Release and Reclaim Online Support Group – This group is offered by Marlene Winell, who coined the term “religious trauma syndrome.” This group includes the option to participate in 3 monthly calls and a private member forum. You can apply on the website and there is no time-specific commitment.
For Clergy and Faith Leaders
Are you a clergy person or someone who finds yourself in a leadership role in a faith-based space? Many folks who lead within ministry spaces (churches, parachurch organizations, religious groups, etc.) have had little to no opportunity to learn about mental health. As someone who has both worked in vocational ministry and received extensive education and training in mental health, I am passionate about providing opportunities for faith leaders to learn about caring for the mental health of both themselves and those they serve.
I would love to talk with you about providing a workshop or class for your group. You can find more information about my “Mental Health for Faith Leaders” services here. Please contact me so we can discuss how I can help you create a space that is more aware of mental health and available supports.
For Other Mental Health Providers
It’s important that those of us who work in mental health are aware of the potential causes and impacts of religious harm. Below are a few options I offer for other mental health providers related to these topics:
- Continuing Education – I provide a variety of NBCC-approved continuing education trainings on topics related to religious trauma. These trainings vary in length and topics covered, and the latest information about CE trainings can be found here.
- Group Consultation – I facilitate a virtual group consultation space on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 11am ET to allow for support, education, and resource sharing among mental health professionals working with survivors of religious harm. This free group consultation is open to any therapist / therapist-in-training, regardless of location. To receive updates about this opportunity, complete this survey.
- Professional Consultation – I also offer one-on-one professional consultation to support those who are working with survivors. This may include mental health professionals or those in other support roles. More information about these services can be found here.
Thank you to Johnna, Jay, and the small team behind Bodies Behind the Bus! Your work is important and the stories of survivors matter!
Michelle F. Moseley is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in NC. 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
Sign-up for Michelle’s Monthly Email Newsletter to make sure you never miss a blog post