What is Religious Trauma? with Ann Russo

In this powerful episode, Devi is joined by mental health advocate and thought leader Ann Russo for a conversation that speaks directly to the hearts of those healing from religious trauma. Ann brings deep wisdom and compassion as we explore what it means to reclaim your agency after experiencing harm in spiritual or religious spaces.

Together, they dive into the often-unspoken complexities of religious trauma — how it impacts identity, self-worth, and the connection to something greater. Ann shares her groundbreaking Religious Trauma Treatment Model, offering a path toward healing that honors both faith and authenticity, especially for those in the queer community who have felt excluded or erased.

“What is the definition of religious trauma?

If you think of PTSD, know where depression, anxiety, difficult functioning, challenges in relationships, you're just, overall, something has impacted you that is making life harder to live in a sense. And in this situation, we're talking about religion, and sometimes with PTSD, we can think of it as like a one-time event. I was in a car accident. I'm afraid to be in a car.

But with religious trauma, especially if you're raised in the church, you're going through these events over and over and over. So it becomes very, very complex.  It impacts how you view yourself in relation to creation, deity, faith systems, scriptures, and how you navigate the world in these communities.”

This conversation is a reminder that true healing requires safe spaces, cultural competence, and deep humility from those who hold space for others. Whether you’ve personally experienced spiritual harm or are simply seeking to understand and support others on their journey, this episode invites you into a space of empathy, restoration, and radical self-reclamation.

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