RELIGIOUS TRAUMA THERAPY IN SAN FRANCISCO, CA
FREEDOM IS WITHIN REACH
Blue Tansy Therapy specializes in psychotherapy for religious trauma survivors in San Francisco. Get help overcoming guilt and indoctrination as well as rediscovering yourself.
Religion is often seen as a supportive factor.
But can you relate?
You’re not sure who you are without religion.
Guilt and fear are your only constants.
In the secular world, you feel like a misfit.
The “big questions” of life are suddenly unanswered.
How Does Religious Trauma Develop?
Surviving abuse by a religious leader or other person in authority.
Experiencing sexism, homophobia, or other prejudice in a religious context.
Being forced to conform to strict rules or standards, leading to a loss of autonomy.
Hearing that something terrible will happen to you if you leave your faith.
What Are Signs of Religious Trauma?
Anxiety, guilt, shame, and low mood.
Recognizing your religion is hurting you but being scared to step away.
Being afraid questioning your religion will mean losing your identity, purpose, and community.
My Approach to Religious Trauma Therapy in San Francisco:
01.
The first phase of treatment focuses on re-establishing safety and autonomy. This can look like addressing hypervigilance and emotional dysregulation.
It can also look like helping you gain confidence. Sometimes the first step is simply understanding your likes and dislikes. I empower you to make decisions to enrich your wellbeing.
02.
The second phase of recovery is remembrance. This may look like identifying positive aspects of your religious experience. It may mean grieving losses. Perhaps you’ve had to leave certain relationships behind or negotiate new boundaries. That’s hard! But you don’t have to do it alone.
Remembrance also means developing a meaningful story of what you have been through. Here, we can address shame. We can examine the stories you tell yourself about you and your role in the traumatic experience. I’ll help you identify what you learned from the experience and how you’ve grown from it.
03.
The third stage of recovery is reconnection. This means both with yourself and others. Reconnection with yourself looks like clarifying your personal identity and values. Your religion probably told you what your future should look like. We can figure out what you want it to look like. This process can also involve developing a healthy sense of spirituality.
Connecting with others is another important component to recovery. You might feel like an “outsider” in the secular world and even struggle with social anxiety. Or you may have difficulty trusting others after what you have been through. We can address these barriers to you being a part of community.
ABOUT KARINA BARRETTO, LPCC
Hi, I’m a trauma therapist in San Francisco specializing in EMDR and attachment-based therapy.
My approach is:
Trauma-informed
Relational and empowering
Grounded in neuroscience and attachment theory
I work with adults who want to heal from past experiences, better understand themselves, and build more secure and fulfilling lives. My practice has a special emphasis on religious trauma recovery.
Religious Trauma Therapy San Francisco FAQS
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Signs of religious trauma show up in many areas. Emotional signs of religious trauma include anxiety, depression, grief, and loneliness. Another emotional sign is loss of identity. Cognitive signs include rigid thinking and perfectionism. You may also struggle with negative views of yourself. Social signs include difficulty forming relationships, including friendships and romantic relationships.
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Religious trauma can take away sense of self- or prevent it from developing in the first place. Without a sense of self, it’s difficult to make independent decisions. Or even know what you like or don’t like. Religious trauma can make it difficult to embrace parts of yourself- such as an LGBTQ+ identity.
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No, I do not view religion as bad. In therapy, I don’t impose any viewpoints or values on you. My goal is not to “convert” you to any religion. Similarly, I don’t aim to persuade you to leave a religion or become an atheist. I provide a safe space to help you identify your own viewpoints and values.
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Yes! You may be questioning your religion or the impact it is having on you. You don’t have to leave it to get support. You can rest assured that I will not try to convince you to leave your religion. What I will do is help you process your emotions and clarify your needs.
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It certainly can be! EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a treatment for PTSD. Many people find it is a helpful component to their recovery. EMDR provides a structured way to process traumatic experiences. It helps reduce symptoms like hypervigilance and flashbacks.
Everyone Deserves Peace. Get In Touch Today.
