Religious Trauma & Faith Deconstruction Therapy in San Clemente
Trauma Informed Therapy for Faith Transitions and Religious Trauma
Faith is meant to offer grounding, meaning, and belonging. When it becomes a source of fear, shame, pressure, or identity confusion, the impact can be deeply destabilizing.
For many people, faith deconstruction or religious trauma is not about rebellion or losing their way. It is the painful realization that something once central to their life no longer fits, and cannot be unseen. This shift can feel disorienting, lonely, and overwhelming, especially when relationships or community are tied to belief.
At Denney Family Therapy in San Clemente, we support teens and adults navigating religious trauma, faith transitions, and high control spiritual environments with compassion, curiosity, and no agenda. You are not here to be pushed back into belief or pulled away from it. Therapy is a space to understand your experience and reconnect with yourself at your own pace.
What Faith Deconstruction Can Feel Like
Faith transitions often involve a mix of emotions and losses that are difficult to name. You may be experiencing:
grief over losing a spiritual home or sense of belonging
fear, shame, or anxiety tied to morality or being wrong
confusion about identity, purpose, or worth
anger or betrayal related to leaders or institutions
pressure to stay silent, obedient, or unquestioning
difficulty trusting yourself or your own intuition
fear of disappointing family or loved ones
These reactions are not signs of failure. They are common responses to years of pressure, control, or identity shaping within a belief system.
How Therapy Can Help
Therapy during faith deconstruction is not about fixing your beliefs. It is about helping you feel safer in your own body, clearer in your thinking, and more grounded as you navigate change.
Our work together is relational, collaborative, and paced with respect for your nervous system. Depending on your needs, therapy may involve:
making sense of the story of what you believed and why it mattered
processing grief, anger, or fear connected to faith experiences
addressing shame and self criticism that developed over time
rebuilding trust in your own thoughts, values, and boundaries
navigating relationships with people who may not understand your shift
supporting identity exploration around meaning, purpose, or belonging
When spiritual experiences have been traumatic, trauma informed approaches such as EMDR may be integrated thoughtfully and only when appropriate.
You Don’t Have to Untangle This Alone
Faith deconstruction is not a failure.
It’s a shift—a transition—a reorientation.
You deserve a space where your story is safe, your questions are valid, and your pace is honored.
We offer in-person sessions in San Clemente and virtual support throughout California.
Reach out when you’re ready.
We’ll meet you exactly where you are—no agenda, no pressure, just compassion and clarity.