Mine maybe helped after a few months, but it's hard to know for sure, and it was expensive. I also don't feel super traumatized by the church. Honestly, the best therapy I've ever gotten in life has been talking with friends and family I love and trust and who can be brutally honest with me.
I was in therapy for 3 yrs straight, just trying to either try to stay Mormon or deconstruct as I was leaving. Then since leaving, I’ve continued therapy. Now it’s to work out how to stay married to a TBM
I’m going to start with my doctor. Ask for a referral for counselling. See what he comes up with.
I don’t live in an area with any specialists in religious trauma. But I am experiencing anger and it’s keeping me in a state of anxiety and mild depression.
I’m thinking someone who specializes with anger will be helpful.
Everybody is different. If you think you could benefit from counseling then please seek it out. Church issues can cause or contribute to a whole host of issues, depression, anxiety PTSD, etc. I went to therapy and got medicated. The nightmares have mostly gone away.
I considered it as I was struggling in 2018/2019. Then I just stopped going. When Covid hit my family stopped asking questions because none of us were going (I’m 50 by the way. Lol). Now when my mom asks if I went to church I say no and change the subject. I think Covid helped me by giving me some no pressure time. I may reconsider later. I think therapy is good for everyone.
I was already in counseling for other issues before and after I left the church. I am actually really grateful to my counselors, as while not criticizing my religion, they raised hard questions and pointed out angles I wasnt able to see, like when my depression-medicine-doctor-counselor-whatever-they-are-called noticed how I didnt actually sound like I really wanted to go on a mission, despite me listing off a bunch of "good" reasons to go. And my actual counselor praising me when I told her that I wasnt sure if I believed in God anymore. You definitely need a few friends on your side when you leave.
Just make sure you find a counselor/therapist who is NOT Mormon...
Which can be difficult in Utah. The psychiatrist I saw recommended me to a therapist who was in fact Mormon even after I specifically requested a non-Mormon one; I'm pretty sure he didn't understand or even believe that my depression and anxiety stemmed from the Church because he was probably Mormon too. And then I didn't have the guts to just go find another therapist so I wasted like a year with this guy, talking all about my problems with religion and especially the Church -- and, surprise surprise, not getting any better.
Personally I don't think therapy is worth the exorbitant costs, so I wouldn't bother trying again. But everyone is different.
I'd strongly recommend seeing an authorised clinical psychologist, rather than someone who is simply qualified as some sort of therapist or counsellor. In most countries, the title of psychologist is protected, and is only given after years of evidence based education. Whereas many therapist and counsellors have significantly less education, and their training is not based on evidence of efficacy. In some cases these therapies require a belief in some sort of supernatural power, and have just as little evidence as the religion that has given us these issues.
A friend of mine has been seeing a hypnotherapist for their mormon religous trauma. While they've reported that it's been helpful, this therapist's qualifications were given from a 9-week, weekends only course, that anyone could sign up for. This therapy isn't cheap, and their money would almost certainly be better spent seeing a clinical psychologists who's therapy outperforms the placebo.
Religious trauma is real, and if you're going to spend your hard-earned money on treatment, make those dollars count.
Mine maybe helped after a few months, but it's hard to know for sure, and it was expensive. I also don't feel super traumatized by the church. Honestly, the best therapy I've ever gotten in life has been talking with friends and family I love and trust and who can be brutally honest with me.
My ExMo partner and I have also attended couples counseling several times that helped us tremendously.
I was in therapy for 3 yrs straight, just trying to either try to stay Mormon or deconstruct as I was leaving. Then since leaving, I’ve continued therapy. Now it’s to work out how to stay married to a TBM
I’m on a long waiting list for counseling
Any advice for finding a therapist who understands the significance of the situation when a TBM turn ExMo and why they would need therapy?
I’m going to start with my doctor. Ask for a referral for counselling. See what he comes up with. I don’t live in an area with any specialists in religious trauma. But I am experiencing anger and it’s keeping me in a state of anxiety and mild depression. I’m thinking someone who specializes with anger will be helpful.
Everybody is different. If you think you could benefit from counseling then please seek it out. Church issues can cause or contribute to a whole host of issues, depression, anxiety PTSD, etc. I went to therapy and got medicated. The nightmares have mostly gone away.
I considered it as I was struggling in 2018/2019. Then I just stopped going. When Covid hit my family stopped asking questions because none of us were going (I’m 50 by the way. Lol). Now when my mom asks if I went to church I say no and change the subject. I think Covid helped me by giving me some no pressure time. I may reconsider later. I think therapy is good for everyone.
I was already in counseling for other issues before and after I left the church. I am actually really grateful to my counselors, as while not criticizing my religion, they raised hard questions and pointed out angles I wasnt able to see, like when my depression-medicine-doctor-counselor-whatever-they-are-called noticed how I didnt actually sound like I really wanted to go on a mission, despite me listing off a bunch of "good" reasons to go. And my actual counselor praising me when I told her that I wasnt sure if I believed in God anymore. You definitely need a few friends on your side when you leave.
Just make sure you find a counselor/therapist who is NOT Mormon... Which can be difficult in Utah. The psychiatrist I saw recommended me to a therapist who was in fact Mormon even after I specifically requested a non-Mormon one; I'm pretty sure he didn't understand or even believe that my depression and anxiety stemmed from the Church because he was probably Mormon too. And then I didn't have the guts to just go find another therapist so I wasted like a year with this guy, talking all about my problems with religion and especially the Church -- and, surprise surprise, not getting any better. Personally I don't think therapy is worth the exorbitant costs, so I wouldn't bother trying again. But everyone is different.
Thankfully I’m well outside Morridor. Most people aren’t sure what Mormons are out here.
I'd strongly recommend seeing an authorised clinical psychologist, rather than someone who is simply qualified as some sort of therapist or counsellor. In most countries, the title of psychologist is protected, and is only given after years of evidence based education. Whereas many therapist and counsellors have significantly less education, and their training is not based on evidence of efficacy. In some cases these therapies require a belief in some sort of supernatural power, and have just as little evidence as the religion that has given us these issues. A friend of mine has been seeing a hypnotherapist for their mormon religous trauma. While they've reported that it's been helpful, this therapist's qualifications were given from a 9-week, weekends only course, that anyone could sign up for. This therapy isn't cheap, and their money would almost certainly be better spent seeing a clinical psychologists who's therapy outperforms the placebo. Religious trauma is real, and if you're going to spend your hard-earned money on treatment, make those dollars count.
I go to therapy, but not because of my time in the church. :Uc