Recovering from Religious Trauma & Spiritual Abuse

Have you experienced abuse within a religious community? Do you feel disconnected from your authentic self because of the demands of a religious tradition?

Others have experienced the same thing, and they would love to heal with you!

What is it?

This program takes Dr. Laura Anderson’s book, When Religion Hurts You: Healing from Religious Trauma and the Impact of High-Control Religion (2023), as a springboard for exploring and healing from the ways that religion has harmed you.

Why join?

Over the last decade, the concept of “religious trauma” has gained significant traction both in online spaces and in counselling psychology research. The purpose of this group is to provide you with:

-       An overview of what religious trauma and spiritual abuse can entail

-       A supportive, non-judgmental environment for learning, processing, and healing

-       Practical activities for connecting with your own beliefs, values, and desires

-       Mental health supports and resources for continuing to heal and grow

Essentials:

Dates: June 11–July 16 (6 weeks)

Time: Wednesdays, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Location: The Calgary Therapy Institute, 755 Lake Bonavista Dr SE Unit 242,

Calgary, AB T2J 0N3, Canada (Treaty 7 Territory)

Max Participants: 6-8 people (a small, supportive group)

Cost: $400 per participant (this fee includes a copy of the book)

Eligibility: This program is open to adults (18+) from any religious background

*Note: This program has no affiliation with any religious institution. There is no expectation that participants belong to, join, or leave any specific religion or spiritual tradition. The aim is to help participants recover from harmful experiences and discover their own path towards healing.

Facilitators:

Tanya Woo (she/her) is dedicated to helping individuals recognize their self-worth and guiding them on their healing journeys to live in freedom. Tanya holds a Master’s degree in Counselling and is certified in various therapeutic techniques. She is deeply committed to helping individuals examine their faith and discover their purpose in life through spirituality, which may involve organized religion or personal development. She has experience assisting those recovering from religious trauma and spiritual abuse. Growing up in a Protestant church, Tanya later pursued graduate-level courses in Christian theology. Although she identifies with the Christian faith, she supports others explore their spiritual journeys across all faith traditions and non-faith traditions, allowing them to connect with their inner selves.

Ryan D. Schroeder (he/him) is completing a counselling practicum at the Calgary Therapy Institute while earning his MA in Counselling Psychology (Yorkville University). Before entering the mental health field, Ryan earned a PhD in Religious Studies at the University of British Columbia, where he taught courses on the history of religion. He also knows firsthand what it is like to live within and leave a fundamentalist tradition, and he supports clients as they deconstruct unhelpful beliefs and behaviours, identify core values and delights, and set about (re)claiming personal autonomy and meaning. His clinical foci include neurodivergence and religious trauma.

Contact our office to book today!

calgarytherapyinstitute@shaw.ca

403-640-7667

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ryan: ryans@calgarytherapyinstitute.com