Working Through Religious Trauma
Jan Griffith, LPC
Therapy without a religious or spiritual framework
Whether you are a lifetime non-believer, or have deconstructed, having an aligned therapist is so very important.
My practice is free from all religious mindsets, activities, or suggestions. You will find a safe space here to address your therapy concerns that are not related to religion, or to deconstruct, or to figure out what comes after deconstruction.
Religious trauma doesn’t look the same for everyone.
It may look like:
Purity culture and sex negative messaging
Overt abuse: physical, sexual, or psychological
Toxic gender role expectations
Feelings of unsafety in the family home when religious beliefs are placed above all other considerations
For those who were raised in, or signigicantly involved with, restrictive or fundamentalist religious communities, the trauma is real. And to have a helping professional not fully aligned with you in this, often leads to re-traumatization.
Deconstructing can feel so isolating, especially when our social networks were built-in to the religious framework. The idea of discovering and forging a life path based on our own inherent values feels confusing and sometimes impossible without an external structure.
There is awe and belonging available to you outside the context of religion or religious communities. Learning to be mindful and present without a spiritual context can be so liberating.
Long-term or One-Time/Short-Term Therapy Sessions
Not everyone needs to commit to months of therapy. Sometimes you just need someone to help you sort through something that feels tricky.
These single or two-session meetings are for folks who are generally doing fine but want a professional perspective on something specific.
Maybe you're:
Stuck and need some clarity before you make a move
Dealing with relationship stuff and want someone neutral to talk it through with
Managing stress or self-doubt in a particular area- work, life, whatever
Curious about therapy but not ready to dive into something long-term
In these focused sessions, we figure out what's actually getting in your way, talk through what's been working (and what definitely hasn't), and come up with a game plan that is doable for you.
About Jan
I am progressive in my politics, secular, and I believe that cursing is a valid form of self-expression. Humor is a big part of how I communicate and I believe it can get us through a lot of things.
Despite being a middle-aged white woman who grew up in the south, you will find no bigoted mindset here. I will never pretend to understand the totality of your experience, but I do promise to see you, hear you, and respect you, while being mindful of the systemic, familial, and cultural issues that may be impacting you.
Education, Credentials,
& Licenses
B.S in Psychology
M.A in Counseling
Licensed as an LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) in South Carolina, Geogia, Virginia, Florida, DC, and Maryland
20+ years of experience in both crisis and individual counseling
Getting Started Together
If something you’ve read here sparks interest, just shoot me a message. I promise to respond and not leave you hanging. We can set up a time to chat where I can hopefully answer all your questions and I can ask a few of my own.