Thou Shalt Not: Treating Religious Trauma and Spiritual Harm With Combined Therapy

2013/01/01 by Alyson M. Stone · 1 voice
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health #Mental Health Treatment and Access #Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology

paper · doi:10.13186/group.37.4.0323

openalex publication_date 2013/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/18

Abstract

That religion can be a source of harm and trauma is something most clinicians know well, yet this fact is underreported in the literature. Indeed, most of the existing research indicates a positive link between religion and mental health. There is likewise little information on spirituality's impact on mental health when it is used to bypass problems, feelings, and needs. This article addresses this deficit by exploring the potentially harmful effects of religion and spirituality. It highlights the role of secure attachment and the combination of individual and group therapy to treat religious trauma and spiritual struggles.

Discussions

• This sentence by Alyson Stone is brutal and perfect: “Religious messages may lie dormant for years, and like programming that cannot be deleted from a hard drive, they exert ongoing influence in ways [bsky, 5 points, 2 comments]

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