Religious Trauma and Cults

When Does a Church Cross the Line into Cult Territory? Uncovering the Signs of Unhealthy Spiritual Influence

Abi Sims

Dec 25 min read

When Does a Church Cross the Line into Cult Territory? Uncovering the Signs of Unhealthy Spiritual Influence

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

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Spiritual Psychosis in Christianity: A Deep Dive into Faith & Mental Health

Abi Sims

Sep 94 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

Spiritual Psychosis in Christianity: A Deep Dive into Faith & Mental Health

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

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Abi Sims

Jul 154 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

Can I Be Spiritual Without Religion?

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

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Deconstruction in the Christian Faith: A Journey of Faith and Doubt

Abi Sims

Mar 44 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

Deconstruction in the Christian Faith: A Journey of Faith and Doubt

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

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Abi Sims

Feb 198 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

Fowler's Stages of Faith Development

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

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The Differences Between Religious Trauma and Healthy Spirituality

Abi Sims

Feb 54 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

The Differences Between Religious Trauma and Healthy Spirituality

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

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The Psychology Behind MLMs: Manipulation or Motivation?

Abi Sims

Jan 86 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

The Psychology Behind MLMs: Manipulation or Motivation?

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...

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Psychological Implications of the Belief in Sin

Abi Sims

Jan 14 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

Psychological Implications of the Belief in Sin

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

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Relationships After Leaving Religion: Navigating the Journey of Understanding & Connection

Abi Sims

Dec 19, 20234 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

Relationships After Leaving Religion: Navigating the Journey of Understanding & Connection

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...

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The Belief of Being Equally Yoked: What Does it Mean, and Is it Hurting Relationships?

Abi Sims

Dec 12, 20234 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

The Belief of Being Equally Yoked: What Does it Mean, and Is it Hurting Relationships?

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

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The Belief in Hell: What's the Psychological Harm?

Abi Sims

Dec 5, 20234 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

The Belief in Hell: What's the Psychological Harm?

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

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The Role of Domestic Violence in Fundamental Christianity

Abi Sims

Nov 28, 20234 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

The Role of Domestic Violence in Fundamental Christianity

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

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Abi Sims

Nov 21, 20234 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

Myths of Purity Culture

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

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The Intersection of CPTSD and Religious Trauma

Abi Sims

Nov 7, 20235 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

The Intersection of CPTSD and Religious Trauma

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

158 views0 comments

Abi Sims

Aug 13, 20235 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

Ask A Therapist: Part 2

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...

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Old vs. New Ways of Thinking (While in Religion & After Leaving)

Abi Sims

Jul 20, 20234 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

Old vs. New Ways of Thinking (While in Religion & After Leaving)

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

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Abi Sims

Jul 19, 20235 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

5 Lasting Effects of Religious Trauma

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

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Abi Sims

Jun 28, 20234 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

The Harmful Teachings of Purity Culture

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

101 views0 comments

Abi Sims

May 22, 20236 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

The Cult of Charismatic Christianity

Photo taken by John Lim at a Hillsong Conference inside Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. For people who grew up in Christian culture...

38 views0 comments

Effects, Symptoms, & Recovering from Religious Trauma

Abi Sims

Apr 17, 20235 min read

RELIGIOUS TRAUMA AND CULTS

Effects, Symptoms, & Recovering from Religious Trauma

Religious trauma is a type of trauma that can occur within religious institutions and/or religious beliefs that cause someone's religious...

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