Want to Explore More about Religious Trauma?
Therapist Bookshelf
I liked ‘When Religion Hurts You’ because I found it to be a clear but compassionate read for anyone exploring the impact of religious trauma. Laura Anderson thoughtfully names how harmful belief systems can shape shame, identity, and relationships, while offering validation - all without attacking faith itself which I really valued. This book is especially helpful for those disentangling personal values from inherited doctrine, and is also a good recommendation for any therapists wanting a grounded, accessible resource to better understand clients affected by religious harm
This is an insightful and compassionate guide for survivors of coercive and spiritual harm. Gillie Jenkinson is incredibly knowledgable in this area and draws on deep personal experience and clinical insight to help readers recognise, process and heal from abusive religious and cult-like environments. The workbook validates painful experiences, but also offers clear and practical steps toward recovery, and supports reclaiming autonomy and self-worth - something that is often lost or hindered in some way. This is a great book to work through with a trusted therapist or alone, but either way, I would go so far as to say this is a essential read for anyone seeking freedom from the lasting effects of coercive spiritual abuse.