Therapy for spiritual abuse

Spiritual abuse happens when faith, religion, or spiritual systems are used to control, manipulate, harm, or you are forced to adopt specific beliefs and/or are not allowed to follow your own spiritual path. It can include shame, fear, exclusion, silencing, or having your worth tied to strict beliefs or obedience. People are often left doubting themselves, disconnected from their intuition, and feeling guilty for questioning or leaving.

Spiritual abuse can look different for everyone. You may have felt controlled, silenced, or afraid in a religious or spiritual setting. Perhaps you were taught that your worth depended on compliance or self-denial. Maybe scripture or teachings were used to manipulate you, you felt shamed for questioning beliefs, or you never felt free to be your authentic self while still being loved and accepted. Even if you’re unsure, therapy can be a safe place to gently explore your experiences and discover what feels true for you.

Therapy offers a safe, judgment-free space to process your experiences and how they’ve affected you. Together, we may explore feelings like grief, anger, fear, shame, or confusion, while also supporting you in reconnecting with your own inner wisdom and sense of self. Healing can involve learning to set healthy boundaries, reclaiming your voice, and rebuilding trust in yourself. A key part of recovery is that I won’t tell you what’s “right” or what to believe— instead, therapy provides the space for you to discover what feels authentic and true for you.

No, this is not Christian counseling. While I have a deep understanding of Christianity and familiarity with other religious traditions, I do not align myself with any organized religion. My role is to support you in your own healing process — whether that includes holding onto, redefining, or stepping away from faith.

No. Therapy with me is client-centered. My role is to hold space for your healing and growth, not to tell you what to believe or practice. I honor any differences we may have and believe everyone should have the freedom to define what feels true and right for them.

Not at all. Healing from spiritual abuse doesn’t mean you have to abandon your beliefs. Some clients choose to redefine or reclaim their faith, while others step away completely. My role is not to tell you what to believe, but to support you in finding what feels authentic and life-giving for you.

Healing is different for everyone. For some, relief comes quickly as they name and validate their experiences. For others, it’s a longer process of rebuilding trust, identity, and self-worth. We’ll go at your pace.

Guilt is a very common part of spiritual abuse recovery. Therapy can help you understand where that guilt comes from and gently untangle it so it no longer controls you.

I am a licensed therapist in California, Arizona, Washington, and Oregon, which means I can provide therapy and counseling to clients who live in any of these four states.

If you are located near Temecula, Murrieta, or Menifee, California, I offer in-person therapy at my local office, as well as walk-and-talk therapy in Menifee. These options are ideal for clients seeking face-to-face support in the Temecula Valley area.

For clients located anywhere else in CA, AZ, WA, or OR, I offer telehealth therapy.

Yes. Spiritual abuse can have wide-reaching effects on mental health. I integrate somatic approaches, mindfulness, parts work, and trauma-informed care to support healing at every level — mind, body, and spirit.

Therapy sessions cost $195 per session and are typically 55 minutes long. The frequency depends on your needs, budget and availability in my schedule.

Acceptable forms of payment are credit card, or Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

I am licensed in California, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona and offer video therapy using a HIPPA compliant program.

The short answer is no.

I have made a conscious choice not to accept insurance in my practice. Why? Because I believe that the therapeutic relationship is sacred between you and me.

If I were to accept insurance, your insurance company may ask to see your charts, which is a breach of the privacy and safety we create when you undertake therapy. I believe strongly that you should be free to say whatever you want in therapy without fear of it becoming part of an official record.

However, I can give you a statement so that you can apply for reimbursement for out-of-network benefits if you wish to do that in your own way.