Worthy Counseling Center

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Religious trauma therapist near me

Religious Trauma Therapist Nashville, TN.

Creating Safe Space for you to heal from spiritual trauma, church hurt, and other adverse religious experiences in Nashville, TN.

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You may have arrived here if you…

  • While your faith may have felt vibrant and life giving at one point, now it feels like it’s hurting you. You feel deep shame, depression, and anxiety. You feel like you’re losing everything.
  • You questioned your sexuality, faith, or theology, and the church community shunned you, telling you you’re not truly Christian.
  • You’ve faced harm or abuse from a faith leader, leaving you wounded and angry towards God and the church.
  • You worked or are working in ministry and thought it would be amazing. What you found instead was deep dysfunction, high control, negligence, and/or leaders demeaning you.

“However you arrived, I’m so glad you’re here. Wherever you are, whatever you’re going through, as a Religious Trauma therapist in Nashville, TN. I would love to walk alongside you.

— Tyler Nicodem, Religious Trauma Therapist, Former Pastor

religious trauma therapist

Church leaders always assert infallibility. you have been told to not trust yourself — that you are sinful, wretched, and have “fleshly desires.” You hear that God loves you, but inside, it feels like God can barely stand the sight of you. You walk with Deep Shame.

You may have felt the weight of constantly trying to measure up leaving you exhausted and empty. Church no longer feels like a sanctuary but a place that deepens your sadness, perpetuating a sense of being stuck. You might cope by withdrawing from your community altogether, fearing judgment or shame. Over time, what once was a vibrant, life-giving faith now feels more like a joyless Christianity.

Most importantly, you deserve recovery from your spiritual trauma.

You need someone who is willing to listen and advocate for you. You need a space that hears, sees, and cares for you. You need a religious trauma therapist in Nashville, TN.

religious trauma counseling

”Religious trauma is real. Every Sunday, many of our churches tell people they are unworthy, sinful, and wretched. It isn’t sustainable.

Instead, I want my clients to know that God sees us as Holy, Worthy, and Loved. That’s why I started Worthy Counseling Center, to help you know that you’re not alone, and that there is hope with religious trauma therapy.”

— Tyler Nicodem, M.A. — Religious Trauma Therapist, Former Pastor

Get Religious Trauma Therapy Near You

What Is Religious Trauma?

Religious trauma is the psychological, emotional, and spiritual harm caused by harmful religious beliefs, practices, or leadership. This trauma often comes from environments where fear, guilt, and control overshadow grace, love, and freedom. If you’ve experienced religious trauma, you may struggle to trust yourself, others, and even God.

Signs of religious trauma might include:

  • Chronic Anxiety: Constantly feeling afraid that you’re not good enough or failing to meet religious expectations.
  • Perfectionism: A relentless drive to perform perfectly in every area of life to earn approval.
  • Identity Confusion: Struggling to separate who you are from what others expect of you in a religious context.
  • Fear of Eternal Punishment: An overwhelming dread of hell, condemnation, or spiritual consequences.
  • Difficulty Trusting Others: Especially authority figures, after experiencing spiritual manipulation or betrayal.

Perhaps you’ve felt like salvation was contingent upon your every action. Maybe every choice you made was scrutinized, and shame was used as a tool for control. You might now find yourself doubting your instincts, your worth, or your ability to make decisions without the validation of a religious authority. A religious trauma therapist near you can help you unpack these feelings and reclaim your sense of self.

What Is Church Hurt?

Church hurt is a specific type of pain caused by negative experiences within a church community. While not all church hurt leads to religious trauma, it can still leave emotional and spiritual scars. Church hurt happens when trusted individuals or communities—those who are supposed to model love and acceptance—inflict harm through words, actions, or neglect.

Common forms of church hurt include:

  • Betrayal by Leadership: When pastors, elders, or spiritual mentors misuse their power, betray your trust, or cause harm.
  • Judgment and Exclusion: Feeling rejected or marginalized because of your beliefs, identity, or circumstances.
  • Spiritual Abuse: When scripture or religious authority is used to manipulate, control, or demean you.

You may have bravely shared a personal struggle, only to hear, “If you had more faith, this wouldn’t be an issue,” or “You’re being selfish by wanting more for yourself.” Such responses invalidate your experience and can distort your view of God and community.

If you’ve been hurt by the church, you might find yourself asking, “Can I ever trust a church again?” or “Am I even allowed to feel this hurt and still be a believer?” A religious trauma therapist near you can help you work through these questions and find clarity.

Other Adverse Religious Experiences

Beyond religious trauma and church hurt, you might have experienced other adverse religious situations that have shaped your relationship with faith and community. Identifying these experiences is an important step toward healing.

Religious Gaslighting

This happens when your perception of reality is questioned or dismissed in a religious context. For example:

  • Minimization of Abuse: “Did that really happen, or are you just being overly sensitive?”
  • Scriptural Justification: “You need to forgive because the Bible says so.”

Gaslighting can make you doubt your feelings and experiences, leaving you uncertain about what’s real.

Religious-Based Shame

This kind of shame goes beyond guilt for specific actions and targets who you are at your core. You might feel unworthy or inherently flawed, as if you can never measure up to God’s standards. Perhaps you’ve heard messages like, “Your heart is deceitful and wicked,” without the balance of grace or hope.

Fear-Based Doctrine

If you grew up in a community that focused heavily on hell, judgment, and punishment, you might feel paralyzed by fear. This fear can show up as obsessive-compulsive tendencies or difficulty making decisions, rooted in the belief that one wrong move could have eternal consequences.

Identity Suppression

Many adverse religious experiences involve suppressing or erasing parts of who you are to fit into a prescribed mold. This might include:

  • Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Being told that who you are is sinful or unacceptable.
  • Calling or Purpose: Feeling forced into roles that align with the church’s needs but not your own gifts or passions.

Community Estrangement

Leaving or questioning your faith community might result in being ostracized or shunned. Losing lifelong connections can feel devastating, especially when combined with the fear of judgment or gossip from those you once trusted.

How These Experiences Impact You

Adverse religious experiences can leave lasting effects, such as:

  • Emotional Numbness: Feeling disconnected from joy, love, or hope.
  • Spiritual Confusion: Wrestling with beliefs about God, salvation, and grace.
  • Relationship Challenges: Struggling to trust others or form healthy boundaries.

You might feel as though the line between others’ expectations and your true self has become blurred. Perhaps you’ve endured situations where you remained silent to “keep the peace” but ended up losing pieces of yourself in the process. Connecting with a religious trauma therapist near you can help you process these feelings and rebuild trust.

Religious Trauma Therapy: Naming Your Experience Is a Step Toward Healing

Religious trauma, church hurt, and other adverse experiences are deeply personal. But you don’t have to face this alone. Recognizing these patterns and naming what you’ve been through is an act of self-compassion and the first step toward healing.

As a religious trauma therapist near you, I provide a safe, supportive space for you to explore your experiences, reconnect with your authentic self, and rediscover a faith (or spirituality) that aligns with your values and brings you peace. If you’re searching for a “religious trauma therapist near me,” you don’t have to stay stuck in sadness, shame, or fear. There is a way forward—a path that honors your story and your healing.

Religious Trauma Therapy Resources

Religious trauma, church hurt, purity culture, and the like are difficult to navigate. Each person has a unique experience that is personal to them. Sometimes, you might not feel ready for religious trauma therapy. If you find yourself new to the process of your faith shifting or deconstruction, below are some helpful resources for your exploration as you try to make sense of this process.

Books

Podcasts

Churches in Nashville, TN. For Those With Religious Trauma