Spirituality
Christian therapy for spiritual issues, faith deconstruction, or religious trauma in Knoxville, TN
Spirituality in Therapy
Spiritual Issues
Spirituality is an important part of our identity. We can explore your faith background to help you understand how your spiritual beliefs affect your mental health and relationships. Many of my clients consider faith an important part of their life. I focus on your needs and requests for how you want to incorporate your beliefs into therapy.
Christian Therapy
My clients often pick me because they want a therapist who understands their Christian background, but don’t want “Christian counseling”. I let you decide if you want to talk about your faith or include your religious beliefs in therapy. I do not force the Bible, prayer, or tell you what to believe. I guide you to make life choices that are aligned with your values.
Faith Deconstruction
If you’re struggling in your faith, experiencing doubt and questions, and feeling lost, this is a completely normal and even healthy part of faith development! It can be isolating and scary to go through faith deconstruction. I partner with my clients to help them find peace and congruence in their beliefs.
Religious Trauma & Spiritual Abuse
If you have been through spiritual abuse from a pastor or ministry leader, church, or high-control religious group, you likely feel the effects as religious trauma. These symptoms can be similar to PTSD and may resolve with EMDR. You need a safe, validating space to explore your experiences. I help you work through your past trauma and reclaim your spirituality going forward.
“Blessed are we, receiving the gift of doubt, for we trust that it is a doorway, freeing us to become all that we could not otherwise have known.”
— Kate Bowler
What is my faith background?
I grew up in an Evangelical Christian background.
I attended non-denominational Evangelical churches most of my life and received my undergraduate and graduate education at Christian universities. I had relatively healthy church experiences, overall.
However, I was negatively affected by some Christian teachings, particularly purity culture, patriarchy, and legalism.
I went through a period of “faith deconstruction” in my 20s. This experience led to a more nuanced faith that embraces ambiguity instead of “black and white”.
Today, I still identify as a Christian and attend a local Mainline Protestant church.
I have a passion for helping people heal from the toxic parts of religion while holding onto their faith.
In my therapy work, my goal is for my clients to have healthier relationships, emotions, and values that are congruent with their faith.
I welcome the opportunity to walk with you on your faith journey, whatever that looks like for you.