When the Sacred Hurts..
Many people carry invisible wounds from spiritual environments that were meant to offer safety, meaning, and connection—but instead left them feeling confused, ashamed, or afraid.
These experiences impact our mental health more then we knew before.
They’re valid. And they deserve healing.
Religious Trauma
"Religious Trauma Is Trauma"
Dr. Laura Anderson
​​​​Religious trauma happens when harmful religious experiences—whether overt or subtle—create lasting emotional, psychological, or spiritual distress so severe, that the nervous system becomes overwhelmed.
​
Early research links the impact of people with known religious trauma to the experience of increasing PTSD symptoms* in everyday life.
​​
From single events to chronic micro experiences, social media movements like #ChurchToo are opening up the conversation, leading us to understand this emerging trauma is far widespread than expected. ​
Common Religious Trauma Experiences:
​​
-
Feeling shame about your body, sexuality, or identity—even if you no longer believe the teachings
-
Difficulty trusting your intuition or setting boundaries
-
Persistent fear, guilt, or anxiety tied to spiritual beliefs or practices
-
Feeling inherently “bad,” “sinful,” or broken
-
Anxiety, shame, or guilt tied to beliefs about hell, purity or divine punishment
-
*PTSD symptoms: intense anxiety, intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, hyperfixation, nightmares, flashbacks, insomnia etc.
-
Existential pain and disorientation of identity, self and personal belief systems
-
Underneath the surface, relationships are conditional with a risk of losing community, fellowship and support network, if you leave.
You are not alone, and you are not beyond repair. Religious trauma is real and you deserve to process, question and grow with compassion and safety.
​
If this resonates with you- know that as you begin untangling the pain, you are also reclaiming your sense of self.
Spiritual Abuse
Spiritual Abuse Is Abuse.
Spiritual abuse is a form of emotional and mental abuse that occurs in a religious or spiritual context. It involves a misuse (or abuse) of power by a person in authority over another- by using faith, beliefs, or sacred texts to manipulate, dominate, or control others.
This type of abuse can happen in any faith tradition and isn't limited to religious leaders—it can occur in families, relationships, or peer groups.
It often overlaps with other forms of abuse, such as sexual, emotional, or financial abuse, especially when spiritual language is used to justify or conceal it.
Common Spiritual Abuse Experiences:​​
​
-
Manipulation and exploitation under the guise of spiritual authority
-
Having scripture or spiritual language used to justify abusive actions
-
Feeling isolated, silenced, or punished for questioning or setting boundaries
-
Pressure to conform to rigid beliefs or practices with claims of 'Divine authority'
-
Use of sacred texts to shame, guilt, or control behavior
-
Enforced accountability without consent or transparency
-
Censorship of decision-making, suppression of personal autonomy and lack of transparency.
​Healing begins with naming what happened and reclaiming your voice, because spiritual abuse is real.
​
​If this resonates with you, know that you’re not alone and there is a way through.
Toxic Sacred Spaces / / High Control Groups
A Toxic Sacred Space Is a Toxic Space
Not all spiritual communities are safe. Toxic sacred spaces and high control groups are environments—religious or spiritual—that demand conformity, suppress questioning, and elevate their leaders or teachings as the absolute blueprint to life.
Some group rules and practices use fear, shame, and control to keep people compliant. While harm often hides behind language like “divine purpose,” “spiritual authority,” or “higher truth.”
​
Many people carry invisible wounds from spiritual environments that were meant to offer safety, meaning, and connection—but instead left them feeling confused, ashamed, or afraid. These experiences are real. They’re valid. And they deserve healing.
​Common Toxic Sacred Space Experiences
​
-
Feeling “broken,” “bad,” or “sinful” without knowing why
-
Feeling anxious or unsafe about questioning group rules, beliefs or thoughts about leaving
-
Experience of shaming or punishment to enforce conformity
-
Being cut off from outside relationships and/or information
-
Prioritizing time, energy and resources on the group- while neglecting personal needs and desires
-
Increasing symptoms of anxiety and overwhelm, especially when outside support is scarce.
If this speaks to your experience, know that your intuition was never the enemy.
You deserve safety, clarity, and healing.
​If this resonates with you, know that You’re not alone and there is a way through.
We are here to listen with a safe, neutral ear..
We are specially trained to help you navigate your personal understanding, seek your own insight and find self compassionate ways to cope and heal.
With a decade of personal experience, and a generation of family experience living in and leaving behind religious trauma and toxic sacred spaces.
Our therapist continues to participate in a range of specialized training and focused study on this emerging mental health concern.
Our Ethical Approach to Religious Trauma and Spiritual Abuse:
We are committed to the autonomy of all persons' belief systems and chosen lifestyles. Willow Rock Psychotherapy is not a religious based counselling service (eg. Christian counselling) nor an alternative holistic healing service, and in no way do we promote or encourage prescribed doctrine or dogma of any kind.
We hold the people who work with us in unconditional positive regard and are committed to a stance of non- judgment, respect and inclusivity.
