Healing from LGBTQ Religious Trauma
One form of trauma that uniquely impacts LGBTQ+ people is religious trauma. Religious trauma is defined as “the physical, emotional, or psychological response to religious beliefs, practices, or structures that overwhelm an individual’s ability to cope and return to a sense of safety” (Reclamation Collective).
Due to some religious beliefs being anti-LGBTQ+, queer and trans people can experience religious trauma that targets their LGBTQ+ identity.
Examples of LGBTQ+ Religious Trauma:
-Being coerced in conversion “therapy” by religious leaders, religious family, or your religious community.
-Being told you are morally or spiritually broken because of your LGBTQ+ identity. Being told you’re going to hell or your soul is “condemned” because of your LGBTQ+ identity.
-Your LGBTQ+ identity being viewed as demon possession or the devil.
The Impact of Religious Trauma on LGBTQ+ People:
I had the chance to interview Dr. Jes Austad, a queer psychologist specialized in religious trauma. Dr. Austad shared that religious trauma can uniquely affect LGBTQ+ people because “In many major religions, being LGBTQIA+ is in itself a sin. It is sometimes also considered the, "Worst sin," under the umbrella of sexual sin. This means that Queer folks are uniquely condemned in many religions. This can impact self-image, relationships, and can lead to crippling shame.”
Dr. Jes Austad, queer psychologist, specialized in religious trauma therapy.
Other impacts of religious trauma include:
-Anxiety/Depression
-Suicidal thoughts
-Internalized homophobia, biphobia, transphobia
-Substance use
-Isolation
-Identity Conflict (being given the message that you have to choose between your religion and your LGBTQ+ identity)
-Loss of trust
-Loss of meaning in life
Religious Trauma Therapy
Religious trauma therapy can help you better understand, validate, and heal from the trauma you’ve endured. “Religious trauma therapy should be a safe and neutral space for you to sort through your needs, relationships, emotions, values, and ideals, so you can create the life that brings you joy. Religious trauma therapy should be centered around your whole personhood,” Dr. Austad explains.
Reclaiming aspects of yourself and your life are a common themes in religious trauma therapy. You may use therapy to reflect on your various identities, reclaim your LGBTQ+ identities, or explore how you want to integrate being LGBTQ+ and religious/spiritual. Finding ways to reclaim pleasure/joy (sexual or nonsexual) and autonomy in your life can also come up during religious trauma therapy.
Religious trauma therapy can be an opportunity for you to explore deconstructing and/or deconverting. Deconstructing consists of evaluating and altering your previous beliefs and worldview. Deconversion is when you no longer identify or claim your previous religion. Not everyone going through deconstructing is looking to deconvert.
Deconstructing or deconverting are both valid options for you in healing from religious trauma. A religious trauma specialized therapist should support the decisions you make in your healing journey. When looking for a religious trauma therapist, Dr. Austad recommends that you “may find it helpful to find a non-religious therapist. You can always ask your therapist if they are religious/practicing and what this looks for them. It is also imperative to know if a potential therapist is Queer celebrating and embracing. The only agenda in therapy should be yours.”
Religious Trauma Resources:
Reclamation Collective Support Groups
Religious Trauma Therapy Directory
Joining a LGBTQ-affirming religious organization
You deserve to be supported and loved for who you are.
If you’re looking for a queer therapist who gets how painful religious trauma can be, connect with Dr. Jes Austad or me (Dr. Jenna Brownfield). I am a LGBTQ-specialized therapist in Minneapolis, MN. I provide online therapy for LGBTQ+ people located throughout Minnesota. You can have a life where you feel supported and love who you are. Let’s connect and nurture what your identities mean to you.
