Healing and Recovery from Religious Trauma with Laura Anderson

High control religion is rarely one big wound. It is closer to death by a thousand paper cuts that add up to complex trauma for many people.”- Laura Anderson



On this episode of Transforming Trauma, Emily Ruth welcomes Dr. Laura Anderson for a compassionate exploration of religious trauma, its impacts, and the nuanced paths toward healing. Drawing from her personal journey and clinical experience, Laura shares how religious trauma operates much like other forms of complex trauma—emphasizing that overwhelm and harm are deeply subjective and that each person has their own unique experience and story.



The conversation highlights Laura’s definition of religious trauma, the importance of naming adverse religious experiences, and how healing must center on agency, autonomy, and honoring lived experience. Together, they discuss the limitations of prescriptive healing models, the need for pacing in trauma recovery, and how practices rooted in compassion and connection—such as the NeuroAffective Relational Model® (NARM®) and other somatic approaches to trauma—help clients rediscover self-trust and resilience. Laura underscores the significance of spaciousness and validation, both in clinical relationships and in communities navigating faith, offering hope for anyone affected by high-control or adverse religious contexts.



We invite you to listen to the full episode and follow Transforming Trauma on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.

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SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join.

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The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care.

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