In this episode of The Trauma Educator Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Laura Anderson, therapist, trauma recovery coach, educator, and founder of the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery. Laura specializes in complex trauma with a focus on domestic violence, sexualized violence, and religious trauma. She is also the author of the book When Religion Hurts You: Healing From Religious Trauma and the Impact of High Control Religion and co-founder of the Religious Trauma Institute.
We explore what religious trauma is, how high-control religious systems shape our identity, and the role of authority, power, and control in these environments. We discuss the confusion we often feel in religious communities, if certain individuals and groups may be more vulnerable to religious trauma, and how purity cultures often contribute to feelings of shame and guilt for experiencing pleasure.
We also talk about the long process of reclaiming autonomy after being involved in a high control religion, and learning how to belong in relationships and communities without sacrificing our agency or sense of self.
Workshop invitation: If you experience depression, I’m running an online workshop on March 18 on Freeze, Shutdown and Depression. Together we’ll explore how to use somatics, emotional energy, and soul work as pathways back to vitality. To find out more and to register, visit here https://courses.effiekli.com/freeze-shutdown-and-depression
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