Religious Trauma and Church Hurt

“I’ve devoted my entire life to this belief, yet…”

You feel so much pain.

You’ve done all the “right” things: gone to Sunday school, volunteered weekly, prayed for friends, and participated in community groups.

Despite doing everything you were “supposed” to do, you STILL don’t feel good enough.

Somehow, you feel “less than” – even an outcast, at times.

It’s like there’s a mold…

And you don’t fit into it. And it hurts because it’s your friends’ standards you feel you’re not measuring up to.

If you ever “get out of line,” it’s “wrong” or “sinful.” You’re told to “pray it away” to gain the love of God.

You have doubts about the teachings, but there’s no space to voice them.

Something’s just not right.

You read your Bible and see love, compassion, understanding, and inclusivity.

Those around you speak of these things, but there are undertones or “requirements”: you’re expected to do certain works, act a certain way, or deny parts of yourself to “earn” the love and support of the community.

Everything seems so conditional, and you just want to be who you are.

“The people who were supposed to love me hurt me the most.”

You poured your heart out to someone who was supposed to be there – to help you and guide you through your pain.

You told them your concerns… your struggles with faith… your true identity. But it was met with disappointment and judgment disguised as love and compassion.

You were told God loved you, but he can’t be near to sin; therefore, you must change who YOU are to meet God.

You were told your questions about faith demonstrated you weren’t a true believer – that you just needed to study the Bible more.

Or you were told you weren’t worthy of certain positions because of your gender, sexuality, or race… all while being told you were made in God’s image and nothing could separate you from the power and love of God.

Whew! That’s a lot for anyone to go through!

No wonder you feel confused and separated!

If you think about it, you’ve been taught to be confused and separated. Unfortunately, you’re not alone.

Here, you can talk about your beliefs without judgment. You can examine your faith and choose your personal beliefs. Yes, it is a choice.

In therapy, you can relax, breathe, and take the time to get to know yourself again.

There’s hope for healing. You can begin today by reaching out for your free consultation: (479) 222-0688.