Queering and Decolonizing Religious Trauma Therapy with Sam Sellers

Queer Religious Trauma Therapy is Political with Liz Rhea

Kit Morgan and Liz Rhea, two queer, American religious trauma therapists and content creators from a Southern Baptist background met to chat about how their backgrounds influence their work today. Kit and Liz discuss the educational and occupational barriers to being trained in religious trauma informed therapy and how to overcome the barriers. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - INTRODUCTION TO THE EPISODE’S FOCUS ON RELIGION, TRAUMA, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THERAPY * 01:13 - Liz talks about her background in conservative evangelicalism and how it informs her work * 02:07 - The dichotomy of growing up with religious environments but supportive parents * 03:10 - Insights into Baptist and Presbyterian church cultures and their historical contexts * 04:44 - The socialization process and the influence of church involvement on identity * 05:48 - The impact of college and deconstruction triggered by political and social awareness * 07:26 - The residue of religious trauma and its persistence in adult life * 09:33 - The role of community and connection in religious fulfillment and its loss in deconstruction * 10:15 - How societal conditioning shapes life trajectories, marriage, and personal goals * 11:29 - The influence of personal loss, including grief over a parent, on religious questioning * 12:17 - Grief, death, and religious denial: navigating complex emotions and societal responses * 13:52 - Managing religious trauma’s impact on perceptions of death and loneliness * 14:47 - Embracing authenticity and showing up fully despite online criticism * 15:15 - The importance of values alignment and boundary setting for mental health professionals * 16:39 - Therapist identity, professional conduct, and navigating social and political criticism * 17:00 - The political nature of social work and therapy, with personal anecdotes from electoral experiences * 19:30 - The impact of political ideologies and policies on client care and personal safety * 20:57 - The importance of defining conversion therapy and the risks of ideological harm * 22:12 - The broad scope of sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts and their clinical implications * 23:00 - Gender expression as part of authentic self-expression beyond conservative standards * 24:15 - Expanding the definition of conversion therapy to include various faith-based practices * 25:57 - Practical advice for emerging therapists: seeking mentorship, reflecting on privilege, and activism * 28:41 - Closing thoughts on integrating advocacy and personal values into therapeutic practice 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/]

Queering and Decolonizing Religious Trauma Therapy with Sam Sellers

Join American, Kit Morgan, and Australian, Sam Sellers in their conversation about what it's like to be queer religious trauma therapists on opposite sides of the world, but sharing close experiences together and how those shared experiences inform their clinical practices and educational work. TIMESTAMPS: * (00:00) - Welcome and episode overview * (00:24) - Guest introduction: Sam Sellers’ background and work * (01:12) - Exploring colonization and decolonizing religious trauma therapy * (02:48) - Religious trauma’s presence across borders and colonized systems * (03:30) - The urgency of queer-centric religious trauma education * (04:11) - The first time Sam heard "religious trauma" and her personal journey * (05:07) - Reconciling faith and internalized homophobia * (06:19) - How therapy modalities like EMDR are practiced in religious contexts * (09:32) - The therapeutic risks of religious environments and training settings * (12:00) - Identity fragmentation in queer trauma survivors * (13:00) - The dogma of trauma modalities and choosing gentle approaches * (14:05) - Why many clients avoid talking about trauma and the value of voice * (15:50) - Person-environment theory and environmental systemic harm * (16:39) - The link between religious trauma and colonization * (19:00) - Land acknowledgment and indigenous reclamation efforts * (22:03) - Addressing patriarchy, white supremacy, and systemic harm * (23:37) - Opposing the use of violence in spiritual doctrines * (24:36) - Authenticity in therapy: modeling humanity over perfection * (28:30) - Recognizing and avoiding misdiagnosis in religious trauma survivors * (31:10) - The importance of authentic therapeutic alliance and power balance * (34:36) - The dangers of over-intellectualizing religious trauma * (35:20) - The value of humility: therapists admitting when they are wrong * (36:35) - Showing up authentically and normalizing vulnerability * (37:43) - Guidance for new therapists entering the religious trauma space * (39:35) - Recommended trainings and resources, including ongoing education * (41:15) - Final thoughts on integrating anti-colonial perspectives in therapy 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/]

Connecting to the World Outside of Religious Fundamentalism's Isolation with Dr. Sara Glass

THIS EPISODE EXPLORES THE NUANCED EXPERIENCES OF LEAVING HIGH-CONTROL RELIGIOUS ENVIRONMENTS, HEALING FROM RELIGIOUS TRAUMA, AND RECLAIMING PERSONAL IDENTITY AND FAITH. HOSTED BY KIT MORGAN, A QUEER AND TRANS RELIGIOUS TRAUMA EDUCATOR AND THERAPIST, THE DISCUSSION FEATURES DR. SARAH GLASS, AUTHOR OF KISSING GIRLS ON SHABBAT, SHARING INSIGHTS ON FAITH DECONSTRUCTION, CULTURAL TRAUMA, AND FOSTERING CONNECTION BEYOND RELIGIOUS CONFINES FOUND IN ORTHODOX JUDAISM AND CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALISM. TIMESTAMPS: * 00:00 - Introduction to religious trauma and its effects on gender and sexuality * 01:19 - Dr. Sarah Glass’ background and work with Jewish queer youth * 02:50 - Commonalities in trauma across high-control religious groups * 04:09 - Experiences leaving Orthodox Judaism * 05:03 - Breaking silence about sanctified oppression * 06:26 - The role of information control and storytelling in religious systems * 07:41 - Cultural shifts: from religious insularity to pop culture exploration * 09:06 - Overcoming shame around unfamiliarity with cultural and social activities * 10:09 - The relationship to rest in high control religious groups * 11:56 - Recognizing the residual effects of religious trauma in daily fatigue * 13:05 - The extremity of authoritarian religious upbringings and their societal influence * 15:37 - The evolving definition of cults and high-control groups * 16:44 - Recognizing how mainstream these religious systems have become * 18:12 - The influence of religious leaders and community structures * 19:22 - The importance of trauma-informed care and avoiding cultural biases * 21:21 - Expanding the language around religious trauma and cults in therapy * 22:48 - Addressing violence and safety within religious and cultural communities * 24:33 - Supporting clients in dreaming beyond religious limitations * 26:18 - Providing education on reproductive health and medical choices * 29:19 - Navigating social media boundaries and online harassment * 33:23 - Encounters with public perceptions and antisemitism in everyday life * 36:56 - Self-awareness around societal stereotypes and anti-Semitic tropes * 40:01 - Lifelong healing, patience, and self-compassion in recovery * 42:43 - Final thoughts on healing at your own pace and embracing community support Resources: * Kissing Girls on Shabbat [https://amazon.com/s?k=Kissing+Girls+on+Shabbat+Sarah+Glass] * Dr. Sarah Glass on Instagram [https://instagram.com/DrSarahGlass] * Ex-Mormon Stories by Martha Beck [https://marthabeck.com/ex-mormon-stories]

Understanding the Connection Between OCD and Religious Trauma with Juliet Gustafson

In this episode, Kit Morgan sits down with Juliet Gustafson, a queer social worker, licensed therapist, and OCD expert, to explore the nuanced intersections of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), religious trauma, and queer identity. They delve into how OCD manifests, common misconceptions, and effective treatment strategies, especially when combined with religious trauma and moral scrupulosity. Key topics: * Clear definitions and misconceptions of OCD, including its core components of obsessions and compulsions * The relationship between OCD and religious trauma, including moral scrupulosity * How OCD can be mistaken for generalized anxiety disorder and the importance of proper diagnosis * Treatment approaches like exposure and response prevention (ERP) and the importance of tolerating uncertainty * The impact of religious and cultural messaging on OCD symptoms, especially around morality and certainty * Navigating OCD-related obsessive thoughts about sexuality, gender identity, and death * Practical exposure techniques for addressing fears about death, sexuality, and bodily fluids * The significance of aftercare, validation, and the role of community in recovery Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to the episode and Juliet Gustafson’s background 01:52 - Defining OCD: obsessions, compulsions, and common misconceptions 03:44 - The serious nature of OCD and how it's misunderstood even in mental health spaces 05:17 - The overlap of OCD with generalized anxiety disorder and diagnostic challenges 07:23 - The ineffectiveness of traditional talk therapy for OCD symptoms 08:49 - Personal stories that deepened Juliet’s understanding of OCD and religious trauma 10:18 - Crossovers between OCD and religious trauma, including moral scrupulosity 11:19 - How trauma and OCD intersect, especially around identity and trust 12:39 - The genetic and environmental factors contributing to OCD 13:41 - Religious influences on OCD symptoms, especially around morality and certainty 15:11 - Addressing moral scrupulosity and the costs of perfectionism 16:17 - Navigating high standards and the impact on daily life and relationships 17:08 - The importance of acceptance and gray areas in OCD treatment 18:06 - Validation versus empathy in therapeutic You can find Juliet's work on Instagram @ocd_therapist_juliet, the Intrusive Plots Podcast, or julietgustafson.com

Finding Freedom from Shame in Being a Man Who's Attracted to Other Men with Tom Bruett, LMFT, CST

Podcast Episode Summary Introduction Speakers: * Kit Morgan: Trans and queer licensed clinical social worker, therapist, and educator specializing in religious trauma work with the queer population. * Tom Bruett: Licensed marriage and family therapist, certified sex therapist, and founder of the Queer Relationship Institute. You can find his work @queerrelationshipinstitute on Instagram or Youtube, The Gay Relationship Podcast, or queerelationshipinstitute.com Episode Theme: * Exploring the intersection of religion, spirituality, and sexuality, focusing on how these elements can oppress individuals based on gender and sexuality. Timestamps and Subtopics: 0:00 - Introduction to the Episode * Overview of the podcast's focus on the impact of religion and spirituality on gender and sexuality. 0:25 - Guest Introduction * Introduction of Tom Bruett and his work with the queer community. 1:56 - Main Discussion: Sexuality and Trauma * 2:18 - Gay Cisgender Men's Sexuality: Exploration of sexuality among gay cisgender men. * 2:31 - Therapy for Non-Heterosexual Men: Challenges faced by non-heterosexual men in therapy. * 3:33 - Microaggressions in Therapy: Common issues and microaggressions experienced by non-heterosexual men. 6:00 - Understanding Sexuality Spectrum * Discussion on demisexuality, fray sexuality, and misconceptions about sex addiction. 9:39 - Principles of Sexual Health * Explanation of the six principles of sexual health and their importance in therapy. 14:01 - Patriarchal Narratives and Therapy * Impact of patriarchal narratives on non-heterosexual men and the role of therapy in addressing these issues. 27:04 - DL Behavior and Religious Trauma * Exploration of DL behavior, its complexities, and its relation to religious trauma. 34:02 - Trauma and Sexuality * How trauma influences sexual behavior and identity, and understanding trauma arousal responses. 39:38 - Addressing Sexuality in Therapy * Guidance for clients on discussing sexuality with therapists and the importance of this dialogue. 41:57 - Conclusion * Closing remarks and appreciation for the conversation.