Sometimes the “safe space” is the one that hurts you.
Religious Trauma Therapy for Women in Florida
Does This Sound Familiar?
Maybe you grew up in a religious environment where questioning wasn’t allowed.
Maybe you were told you were sinful for simply being yourself.
Maybe leaving your church or faith community has left you feeling lost, guilty, or cut off from loved ones.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many women I work with carry the invisible weight of religious trauma. They’ve been silenced, shamed, or pressured to conform, and now they’re ready to reclaim their voice and heal.
How do you heal from something they’re not willing to acknowledge?
What Is Religious Trauma?
Religious trauma, sometimes called church hurt or spiritual abuse, happens when faith, scripture, or spiritual authority is used in harmful ways. It can leave deep emotional scars, even long after leaving that environment.
Common signs you may be experiencing religious trauma include:
Persistent guilt or shame, even when you’re not doing anything wrong
Fear of questioning beliefs or authority figures
Anxiety or dread around religious holidays, gatherings, or rituals.
Feeling unworthy or “broken” in the eyes of God
Strained family relationships when you set boundaries or choose differently
Loss of identity after stepping away from your faith community
If these resonate with you, therapy can help you untangle the pain and rebuild trust in yourself.
How Religious Trauma Therapy Can Help You
Healing doesn’t mean rejecting everything you once believed. It means creating space to decide what’s true for you and letting go of shame that never belonged to you.
In our work together, you can:
Reclaim your voice and sense of self.
Set boundaries without overwhelming guilt.
Explore your spirituality on your own terms, whether that means reconnecting with faith or finding peace outside of it.
Heal from the anxiety, fear, and self-doubt instilled by harmful religious experiences.
Feel more grounded, confident, and free in your everyday life.
Imagine waking up without dread on Sunday morning.
Imagine gathering with family without fear of judgment.
Imagine knowing you are enough, just as you are.
What to Expect in Therapy
Religious trauma therapy is not about forcing you to leave your faith or adopt new beliefs. It’s about:
Meeting you exactly where you are in your healing journey.
Offering a safe, non-judgmental space to process your story.
Helping you release harmful messages while holding onto what still feels life-giving.
Moving at a pace that feels right for you.
Sessions are available via secure online therapy across Florida. Including Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville, and beyond.
Why Work With Me?
As a therapist who has also walked through the impact of religious trauma, I know how isolating and confusing this journey can feel. My training in trauma-informed care, combined with my lived experience, helps me create a space where you feel seen, safe, and supported.
I specialize in helping women of color and Christian women navigate the intersection of faith, identity, and healing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy for Religious Trauma
Please reach to me at info@mindful-blooms-counseling.com if you cannot find an answer to your questions.
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No. Religious trauma therapy is not about telling you what to believe. It’s about creating a safe space where you can process your experiences and decide what feels true and life-giving for you.
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That’s okay. Healing from religious trauma takes time, and therapy moves at your pace. You never have to share more than you feel comfortable with.
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Yes. Many people seeking help for religious trauma want to keep parts of their faith. Therapy can help you sort through what feels supportive versus what feels harmful, so your spirituality becomes a source of strength instead of pain.
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Absolutely. Religious trauma therapy supports you whether you want to keep, change, or let go of your beliefs. The focus is on healing the emotional wounds caused by harmful religious experiences so you can move forward with peace.
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Religious trauma can contribute to anxiety, depression, guilt, shame, and difficulty trusting yourself or others. Therapy helps you understand how religious trauma has impacted your mental health and gives you tools to heal those patterns.
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Yes. Online therapy is a safe and effective option for working through religious trauma, especially if you don’t have local support or don’t feel comfortable talking about your experiences in your community.
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Healing from religious trauma looks different for everyone. Some people feel relief after a few sessions, while others need more time to unpack deep wounds. Religious trauma therapy helps you move forward step by step, at a pace that feels right for you.
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Yes. Religious trauma often connects to other areas of life, including racial identity, family dynamics, and self-worth. Therapy provides a space to explore all of these connections so you can heal more fully.
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Weekly sessions for at least the first 3 months. After that, we can reassess what would be best for you.
Biweekly or once a month sessions are not available for new clients. -
Although therapy is meant to be preventative, most people don't start until they're already struggling. If you're finding yourself repeatedly wrestling with the same things, aspects of your life are being negatively affected, your quality of life is rapidly decreasing, or you feel like you've lost control of your life, it is likely a sign to reach out for therapy.
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Some things can be hard to understand unless you have experienced it yourself. Although we may not have the same story, there will be a commonality between us that will help you not feel as though you have to educate another person on what it feels like to experience this kind of trauma.
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This can vary from person to person. I recommend doing at least 3 months of weekly sessions and then re-evaluating whether your goals are being met, or if progress is being made.
Some clients may see improvements after just a few sessions, while others may require longer-term therapy.
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Finding someone that you can afford, and accepting new clients is just the first step. Not every therapist will be the right fit for you. Check out my blog "6 Signs You've Found The Right Therapist" for things to look out for during your search.
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Book a consultation call with me! We can see if we're the right fit for each other and if we are, we'll get you scheduled to start sessions! Book a session here!
“A marker of healing from religious trauma is not simply the process of deconstructing one’s worldview and identity and rebuilding a new one; it is also the willingness to remain open to shifting and changing over the course of one’s life.”
— Laura E. Anderson