The Place We Find Ourselves 172 Spiritual and Religious Trauma with Dr. Hillary McBride
May 15, 2025
Dr. Hillary McBride, author of 'Holy Hurt' and a registered psychologist, dives into the complex world of spiritual trauma. She discusses our deep need for belonging and the inherent goodness within us, challenging the notion that healing means suppressing emotions. Hillary emphasizes the significance of witnessing our feelings and acknowledges the harmful effects of spiritual bypassing. Additionally, she invites listeners to explore healing at the upcoming Spiritual Trauma conference, fostering community support in this vital journey.
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Understanding Spiritual Trauma
- Spiritual trauma includes psychological and existential injuries linked to spiritual beliefs or communities.
- Trauma fractures our safety, meaning-making, and connection to ourselves and ultimate reality.
Consequences Threaten Belonging
- Consequences of spiritual trauma often involve threats of losing belonging and community.
- Such threats deeply fracture our being and facilitate control through fear of expulsion.
Compliance Undermines Agency
- Compliance creates a sense of belonging but at the cost of personal agency and self-trust.
- Being told to “die to self” damages psychosocial development and fractures a robust sense of self.
