your faith walk is a journey, it’s ok if it’s messy.
Therapy for spiritual and faith concerns in MN & WI
Feeling tangled up with questions or difficult experiences with your faith community?
Welcome. You are in good company.
So many of my clients come to me feeling like they’re the only one in their church or small group asking some really hard questions:
What does it mean about me if I don’t think/believe the way I used to?
Some of what I’ve been taught doesn’t really make sense to me anymore, so now what?
I’m afraid I’ll lose my whole community if I say of these things out loud
I’m wondering if some of what I experienced wasn’t healthy
You’re not alone.
How therapy works
Let’s journey together.
Faith is an experience of continual growth. So what happens when we outgrow aspects of our fervently held beliefs or our faith community? What do we do when the people who have been the most important role models in our lives inflict massive hurt?
You might need a safe space to say some of the “risky” things, to wrestle with your thoughts and feelings without the repercussions that might have in a smaller community.
You might need a place to recover from wounds inflicted by people in leadership with someone who understands the nuances of faith communities and the various (seemingly conflicting) emotions about your experience. I offer space that is respectful and non-directive. Therapy here is not about shaping your beliefs — it’s about supporting your well-being as you navigate your own values and meaning.
I am a therapist who has been deeply shaped by my Christian faith communities over the years and seen my fair share of issues with those communities. I do not provide biblical counseling but enjoy holding space for those examining issues of faith or faith communities while removing the pressure to be or believe anything specific in order to hold worth.
Therapy for spiritual and faith concerns can help you…
Gain clarity about your experiences and beliefs
Strengthen a connection to God without losing your sense of worth
Identify trauma or unhealthy environments and experiences
Navigate communities and find belonging
Frequently asked questions about therapy for faith and spiritual concerns
FAQs
-
Not if you don’t want to! Research shows having a faith community can be protective and good for your mental health. Sometimes it just takes a little work to find a good and safe community you can belong to.
-
That’s something we’ll figure out together. Religious trauma can be subtle. Some signs of trauma can be easy to identify (like being easily startled, avoidance of places or people, intrusive graphic memories, or dissociation) others are more subtle (like difficulty sleeping, chronic feelings of being not good enough or sinful, obsessively reviewing your behavior or wondering if you’re falling short of expectations, negative self-talk, over or under-functioning). Together we can identify what you’re experiencing and what to do about it.
-
You can start the process by clicking the “get started” button below. Reaching out can sometimes be the hardest part. This call should feel friendly, supportive and low-pressure. You can give me a little information about what you’re experiencing and I’ll give you more information about what therapy with me would be like for you. You can ask all your questions and get a sense of what it would be like to meet with me regularly. If you’re curious - it can’t hurt to have a free call.