Asians Do Therapy Valerie Yeo, PsyD. Religious Trauma and the Asian American Experience
Feb 24, 2022
Dr. Valerie Yeo, a psychologist in Portland, specializes in religious and racial trauma, focusing on the Asian American community. She discusses the psychological impacts of faith deconstruction within the evangelical context and the intricacies of religious trauma. The conversation addresses how white supremacy intersects with Christianity, shaping identities and experiences. Dr. Yeo emphasizes community support and resources for those navigating their faith transitions, especially individuals grappling with restrictive beliefs and the emotional fallout of religious trauma.
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Church As Immigrant Lifeline
- Evangelical churches offer newcomers a clear moral map and community, which can feel stabilizing after immigration.
- That same clarity derives largely from Western missions and carries colonial influence into Asian American churches.
Core Evangelical Framework
- Evangelicalism centers on being "born again," original sin, and Scripture as unquestionable moral authority.
- Conversion is framed as surrendering personal power and differentiates insiders from outsiders.
Purity Culture's Wide Reach
- Purity culture extends beyond sexual behavior into shame about normal desire and body responses.
- That shame reshapes relationships, body image, and emotional safety across life domains.