When we analyze ours (or others) religious experiences, using "cult" to describe those experiences can make it more challenging for us (and others) to actually take a step back and view those experiences from a place of curiosity. Instead, we (and others) might be quick to become defensive or combative because in our minds, there's no way WE would ever be apart of a cult.

Religious indoctrination, particularly in Christianity, has a major influence on a person's psychological development, behaviors, and belief

In a world filled with different spiritual practices existing around the globe, distinguishing a supportive church from a potentially

Spiritual psychosis, a phenomenon where intense religious experiences or beliefs overlap with symptoms of mental illness, has been a topic

It's common for religion and spirituality to be combined together: religion often does develop an individual's spirituality. However, for...

Deconstruction has become a common term within Christian circles, sparking debates, conversations, and controversies. When we deconstruct...

Faith development is unique to the individual, and our experiences shape how our faith develops. James W. Fowler, a theologian and...

As a therapist who specializes in religious trauma, I'm passionate about helping others recognize the signs and symptoms of religious...

Chances are, we all know at least one person who's in a multi-level marketing company. Maybe it's you or used to be you! Multi-level...

Beliefs play a pivotal role in shaping our understanding of ourselves and the world. A believe that's transcended religious and cultural...

Leaving a religious community is a personal and challenging journey. The decision to step away from beliefs you've held on to for a large...

The concept of being equally yoked is deeply engrained in Christian culture and personal belief systems. This term, rooted in biblical...

The afterlife has been deeply engrained in various religions and cultural belief systems. Throughout history, the concept of hell, a...

*TRIGGER WARNING: discussion of domestic violence* Domestic violence is an issue that transcends cultural, religious, and socioeconomic...

We've explored the harmful teachings of purity culture in a previous blog post, which you can reference here, but for a quick refresher:...

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (also known as CPTSD or complex trauma) and religious trauma are two deeply impactful experiences...

Welcome to Part 2 of "Ask A Therapist"! After seeing the response of the first "Ask A Therapist" blog post, which you can access here if...

In high demand religion (in this case, Christianity), we're taught to think specific ways about ourselves and the world around us. We...

Religious trauma is when religious beliefs that are psychologically harmful are implemented by people who hold power in religious...

Purity culture is a subculture of evangelical Christianity that emphasizes abstinence before marriage, strict gender roles, and modesty....