Understanding Religious Trauma & Spiritual Abuse
Religious trauma may stem from high-control religious environments, authoritarian teachings, purity culture, or condemnation based on identity—especially for LGBTQIA+ individuals, women, neurodivergent people, and those from marginalized communities. It often includes:
- Fear-based teachings rooted in shame, punishment, or hell
- Experiences of exclusion, excommunication, or being told you’re “broken”
- Emotional, psychological, or sexual abuse within religious settings
- Loss of community and identity after leaving a faith tradition
- Chronic guilt, anxiety, or a sense of disconnection from self or spirit
Spiritual abuse can be subtle or overt, but always involves the misuse of spiritual authority or belief systems to control, silence, or harm. You may feel confused, angry, numb, or abandoned. These are normal reactions to abnormal situations.
You deserve space to grieve, question, and heal—without pressure to return to any specific doctrine or belief.
A Safe Place for Spiritual Healing
Our trauma-informed approach prioritizes your autonomy, voice, and values. Whether your goal is to deconstruct harmful teachings, explore your spirituality outside of religious frameworks, or reconnect with a faith tradition in a healthier way, our therapists walk beside you—not in front of you.
We integrate modalities like:
- Narrative therapy to help you reclaim your story
- Somatic and mindfulness-based practices to restore trust in your body and intuition
- Inner child work to heal early spiritual wounds
- Psychoeducation about trauma, spiritual coercion, and power dynamics
- Cultural humility, especially around race, gender, and queer identity
We welcome clients from all religious backgrounds and none—including interfaith, former evangelicals, exvangelicals, Catholics, progressive Christians, spiritual seekers, and people harmed in non-traditional or fringe spiritual spaces.
Explore our LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy services and trauma counseling to see how we support healing across identities and histories.
Transformation Is Possible
While the pain of religious trauma can run deep, so can the power of transformation. At Darby Integrative Counseling, we believe that healing doesn’t mean forgetting—it means finding a path forward rooted in integrity, freedom, and self-trust.
We’re here to support you as you:
- Rebuild a sense of self outside of dogma or shame
- Explore or redefine your spiritual beliefs
- Cultivate healthy boundaries and relationships
- Reclaim joy, embodiment, and belonging
You are not alone—and you are not beyond healing.
Begin Your Healing Journey
Whether you’re newly questioning your faith, long out of a harmful religious environment, or still figuring out what spirituality means to you, our team is ready to support your unique journey.
If you’re searching for a religious trauma therapist or a spiritual abuse therapist in DC or Maryland, we invite you to connect with us. Our inclusive, affirming care honors the complexity of your experiences and the sacredness of your healing.
Schedule a free consultation today and take the first step toward spiritual and emotional wholeness.