religious trauma & faith deconstruction therapy in phoenix
in Central Phoenix & online throughout Arizona
Religious trauma, faith deconstruction, and everything in between
Religious trauma can happen when exposure to damaging religious teachings, relationships, or institutions causes significant psychological harm.
For some people, those experiences have lasting effects on their sense of safety and their ability to trust themselves. Trauma symptoms can include anxiety, hypervigilance, nightmares or intrusive memories.
But not everyone who questions or leaves religion has experienced trauma.
Faith deconstruction is the process of examining, questioning, or reconsidering beliefs you've previously accepted. Sometimes it follows a painful experience. Sometimes it's the result of years of curiosity, learning, or realizing that your beliefs no longer make sense to you.
And sometimes leaving religion is less about what happened inside it and more about wondering what life looks like afterward.
You don't need to decide whether your experiences qualify as trauma before you're allowed to talk about them in therapy.
Group therapy room
What if you aren't fundamentally flawed?
What if being hungry, horny, angry, tired, curious, uncertain, or occasionally selfish doesn't mean you've failed at life?
What if you're just, like, a person?
You can stop believing something intellectually and still feel shitty about violating it emotionally. Years of conditioning don't just disappear when your beliefs change.
And you can take responsibility for your choices, work on patterns that aren't serving you, and decide what kind of person you want to be without treating yourself as a failure.
You're allowed to be human. You are not a problem to be solved.
What if you're just... human?
Artwork, 2026. Shared with permission.
Sessions available in office or virtually
Coaster designed by me, 2023
I’m here to help you figure it all out.
What does a session with me actually look like? Read more about my approach to individual counseling for religious deconstruction and religious trauma here.
Ready to get started? Book your free, 15 minute virtual consult and we’ll get rolling.
Have more questions? You can reach me at 602-601-2062 (text or call) or janae@getrealcounseling.com.
Group counseling: sometimes it's nice to be around people who understand.
I also offer an in-person Therapeutic Art Group for Adults Leaving or Transitioning from Religion in Central Phoenix.
Group therapy is a place to connect with other adults who are questioning, leaving, or adjusting to life after religion, while exploring creative expression in a relaxed, supportive environment.
You don't have to identify as traumatized, have everything figured out, or be particularly good at art.
No artistic experience required. Seriously.
Learn more about group here.
Group therapy room, 2026
Ready to get started?
If you're curious about working with me, schedule your free, 15-minute virtual consultation. You can also text/call me with questions at 602-601-2062.