The Hopeless Romantic Pastors

The Hopeless Romantic Pastors

This episode dives into the nuanced reality of pastors who are driven by deep-seated romantic ideals, often rooted in childhood experiences of trauma and conditional love. Kit Morgan, trans and queer licensed clinical social worker, therapist, and educator, specializing in religious trauma challenges stereotypes, explores the diverse backgrounds of pastors, and discusses the importance of trauma-informed care for church leaders and their communities. In this episode: * The misconception that all pastors are narcissists and the diversity behind pastoral personalities * How childhood trauma and conditional love create a longing for safe belonging, influencing pastoral calling * The difference between romantic and hopeless romantic identities, and how these shape pastors’ worldview * Why many pastors may marry young or experience love bombing, affecting their emotional fulfillment * The impact of secret-keeping and idealization in pastoral roles, including how it influences mental health and relational dynamics * The challenges faced by non-narcissistic pastors dealing with unrealistic expectations, overwork, and career risks * The significance of trauma-informed therapy for pastors to prevent harm and foster healthier church environments * The concept of wounded healers and the necessity of healing wounds for authentic empathy and leadership Timestamps: 00:00 - Challenging stereotypes about pastors' narcissism 02:13 - Pastors' diverse backgrounds and personal stories 05:01 - The role of childhood trauma in shaping pastoral motives 09:25 - Understanding hopeless romanticism in pastors 13:18 - Conditional love and its influence on faith and identity 16:37 - Overcompensation behaviors and emotional escapism 19:47 - The risks of early marriage and secretive relationships in pastoral life 23:17 - The importance of trauma-informed care for pastors 27:37 - The concept of wounded healers and preventing harm 30:01 - The necessity of trauma-informed therapy for church leaders Resources: * Religious Trauma Therapy in New York, Indiana, and Virginia [theliberatedporch.com] * Mentorship for Therapists Wanting to Learn More about Religious Trauma Informed Practices [theliberatedporch.com] * Read More About Religious Trauma on Substack [https://theliberatedporch.substack.com/] Find Kit Morgan on TikTok, Instagram, and Substack @theliberatedporch

How to Heal From Religious Psychosis

Kit Morgan, the host of The Liberated Porch Podcast is a religious trauma specialist for the gender and sexuality diverse population. Kit is a therapist and write and discusses in this episode what religious psychosis is and how to heal from it. Key Topics: * The difference between clinical psychosis and religious beliefs * The dangers of armchair diagnoses and stigma around religious psychosis * Shared psychosis in religious communities and the concept of folie à deux * Common delusions among Christian fundamentalists, including persecutory and grandiose delusions * The role of environmental factors such as dehydration and sleep deprivation in spiritual experiences * Treatment approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis (CBT-P) * Strategies for supporting loved ones experiencing religious psychosis * The importance of reducing distress and anxiety to prevent aggressive behaviors in fundamentalists To learn more about religious trauma and religious psychosis, please support Kit's work on Substack, Instagram, and TikTok @theliberatedporch

Gentrification and The Strategic Coming Out of Pete Buttigieg

In this episode of the Liberated Porch Podcast, host Kit Morgan explores the complex intersections of religious trauma, LGBTQIA+ identity, systemic oppression, and politics through deeply personal and societal lenses. Kit dives into topics like the impact of systemic failures, the politics of being queer and religious, and critically examines the recent controversy involving Mayor Pete Buttigieg's personal life and political actions. Main topics: * The political nature of queer and religious trauma work * Systemic failures in policing and child protective services, especially relating to Black and brown communities * Critical analysis of Pete Buttigieg’s political career, personal disclosures, and adoption practices * The weaponization of social services against marginalized communities * The importance of advocacy, ethics, and liberation-oriented social work Resource: Pete Buttigieg's story about his family being directly impacted by Child Protective Services. [https://substack.com/@petebuttigieg/note/p-203734900?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=5j0p71] To learn more about religious trauma, subscribe to @theliberatedporch on Substack, Instagram, and TikTok

Queer Religious Trauma Therapy is Political with Liz Rhea

In this episode of The Liberated Porch Podcast, Kit Morgan sits down with queer therapist and content creator Liz Rhea, LCSW, for a candid conversation about religious trauma, queer identity, deconstruction, and what it means to practice therapy with integrity. Liz shares what it was like growing up in a deeply conservative evangelical environment shaped by purity culture, Southern Baptist influence, and intense church involvement. Together, Kit and Liz unpack how religion can provide community and purpose while also enforcing silence, control, and shame — especially for women, queer people, and anyone who doesn’t fit the mold. The conversation also explores grief, especially how the loss of a parent can crack open long-held beliefs and make harmful theology impossible to ignore. From there, Kit and Liz dive into the politics of therapy, the reality of conversion therapy and “gender identity change efforts,” and the pressure many therapists feel to stay neutral in a deeply political field. They close with practical advice for early-career therapists and students who want to stay values-aligned while navigating supervision, licensure, and institutional pressure. A thoughtful, validating, and necessary conversation for anyone interested in religious trauma, queer mental health, and deconstructing harmful systems. Resources: * Liz on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lizrheatherapy/?hl=en] * Liz on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@lizrheatherapy] * Liz Website [https://www.lizrheatherapy.com/] To learn more about religious trauma, check out @theliberatedporch on Substack, Instagram, and TikTok

Queering and Decolonizing Religious Trauma Therapy with Sam Sellers

In this episode, Kit Morgan sits down with religious trauma expert, Sam Sellers, to explore the nuanced intersections of religion, colonization, and mental health. They discuss how religious trauma impacts queer communities, decolonizing therapeutic practices, and building trauma-informed spaces by confronting harm and dogma. In this episode: * The origins of the term "religious trauma" and its personal significance * How colonization influences religious trauma across borders * The importance of queer-centric religious trauma education * Challenges of applying traditional trauma therapies like EMDR with religious trauma survivors * The systemic issues in assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic approaches * Strategies for creating affirming, autonomy-respecting environments * The vital role of deconstructing patriarchy, white supremacy, and misogyny in religious trauma healing * Practical advice for new therapists entering this specialized space Resources: Religious Trauma Collective [https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/] Anchored Counselling Services [https://anchoredcounsellingservices.com.au/meet-sam-new/] Beyond the Surface Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/4m4UsUynYaRYX11xn5FKgX] Sam on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/anchoredcounsellingservices/] To learn more about religious trauma, check out @theliberatedporch on Substack, Instagram, and TikTok