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I recently asked a group of people familiar with the podcast what subjects they would like to hear addressed in a future episode. With little hesitation, two people suggested the topic of Religious Trauma. This is a topic that comes up fairly regularly in therapy sessions. As a trauma specialist, I have met people who have been through all kinds of difficult situations, and a sizable number of them have been injured at the hands of someone who is in some way identified with a particular religious or spiritual group.

In this episode, we explore the topic from several angles. First, we will discuss working definitions of what Religious Trauma is. The conditions of Religious Trauma are often complex, and the specific injuries people suffer are varied. There are different ways people describe this phenomenon, and their perspective is often a product of their own agenda and belief system.

Second, we will look at what accounts for the injuries sustained when someone has been victimized in the name of a particular religion or belief system. We will discuss why Religious Trauma is a real trauma, and we will look at the impact of the particular agent of injury.

Third, we will look at some of the ways victims of Religious Trauma present in therapy. We will explore the general reactions people have when they have been injured in this specific way, and we will discuss how this form of trauma injures people by distorting the very natural human drive to make meaning of our lives and our place in the world.

Fourth, we will then discuss some approaches to begin healing from this devastating form of trauma. Of course, there is not one specific technique or approach for all people due to the complexity and variety of ways people could be affected, but there are sound principles of healing that will help anyone who is struggling with this kind of injury.

Finally, we will close the discussion with a message of hope about what healing looks like. It is our birthright as human beings to explore our place in the world and to ultimately achieve a level of understanding and acceptance that brings peace and joy back into our life.

If you or someone you know has been victimized by a religious group or a person acting in the name of a religious group, this episode of Peace, Love, & Psychology can help you along in your healing journey.

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Recorded and edited at Studio 970West, Grand Junction, CO.

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