Content Warning:

This page includes themes related to spiritual abuse and religious trauma. Please proceed gently.

Healing from Religious Trauma & Church Hurt

You are not alone—and this isn’t the end of your story.

Safe, faith-sensitive support for women.

Wondering if it’s really trauma?

Worried it’s ‘not serious enough’ to seek help?

If it’s still affecting your peace, your faith, or your sense of safety—it matters.
And you deserve support.

Church is meant to be a place of safety—a refuge where we grow in faith, experience love, and find belonging.

But sometimes, the place that was meant to nurture your soul leaves you wounded instead.

If you've been hurt by a church, spiritual leader, or faith community, you might feel lost, anxious, or unsure how to trust again. You may be grieving a sense of spiritual connection—or questioning if God is still good after what you’ve experienced.

You may have been silenced. Dismissed. Or made to feel like your pain was your fault.

But your story is valid. And your healing matters.

Here, you don’t have to perform or pretend.

You can be honest about what hurts—and what you hope for.

What Is Religious Trauma?

Religious trauma occurs when spiritual environments—such as churches, leaders, or faith-based communities—cause emotional, psychological, or spiritual harm.

It can leave lasting impacts on your faith, your sense of self, and your ability to feel safe in the world. This form of abuse can look like:

  • Being manipulated, controlled, or shamed “in the name of God”

  • Fear-based teachings that leave you constantly anxious or never “good enough”

  • Pressure to stay silent about abuse, injustice, or personal struggles

  • Having your pain dismissed as weakness or “lack of faith”

  • Feeling like you have to earn God's love through performance or perfection

This space isn’t about performance—it’s about restoration.

Faith-Based Support Is Always Optional

You don’t have to believe a certain way or return to church to receive help here.

We can include scripture, prayer, or quiet reflection—only if and when you feel safe.

This is not a place to be pushed or fixed.
This is a place to be heard and supported.

I bring both clinical and lived experience from high-pressure ministry settings. You’ll be met with compassion and care.

Spiritual abuse twists the truth of who God is. Instead of leading you into love, freedom, and rest, it traps you in cycles of fear, shame, and confusion.

But here’s the good news:

Jesus Never Came to Burden You

If religious trauma has made you feel unworthy, exhausted, or afraid of God, hear this truth again:

Jesus never silenced the broken.
He never shamed the hurting.
He never manipulated people into submission.

Instead, He said:

📖 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

He didn’t come to uphold toxic systems. He came to restore the weary and draw close to the crushed in spirit.

If your heart has been wounded by church leaders or spiritual communities—know this: their actions do not reflect the heart of Jesus.

All sessions are confidential, held online, and offered with gentleness and respect.

Why Church Hurt Cuts So Deep

Spiritual wounds reach into sacred places—your faith, your identity, your sense of belonging.

When those entrusted with spiritual care misuse their power, it can feel like a betrayal of the soul. You may find yourself wondering:

✔ “Was my faith even real?”
✔ “Is God disappointed in me for walking away?”
✔ “Can I ever trust a church again?”

These are honest, sacred questions. And they don’t disqualify you from faith—they’re part of the healing.

God isn’t afraid of your questions. He draws near to your grief.

What Healing from Religious Trauma Can Look Like

Leaving a harmful church isn’t walking away from God.

Healing doesn’t mean going back—it means moving forward into truth, safety, and peace.

Together, we can gently explore:

  • How past spiritual wounds are impacting your life and faith today

  • How to untangle God’s truth from control or fear

  • Simple nervous system tools to support regulation and rest

  • Healthy boundaries—without guilt or shame

  • Rebuilding a faith rooted in love, not fear

You don’t have to believe the same, speak the same language, or return to the same church.

This is your healing. Your relationship with God. Your pace.

🌿 Start Gently with a First Session Introductory Offer

60 Minutes for $50 — Online — Obligation Free

Are you feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure where to begin?

This First Session offers a gentle, supportive space to explore your needs, share your story, and gain clarity—at an affordable price.

What to Expect:

✅ 60 minutes of one-on-one online support for $50
✅ A safe, compassionate space to share your story
✅ An introduction to my trauma-informed counselling approach
✅ Faith-sensitive support, if you choose
✅ Initial insights and gentle next steps
✅ No obligation to continue beyond this session

Who Is This For?

This space may be for you if:

  • You’ve been hurt by a church, pastor, or faith-based group

  • You feel confused, anxious, or wary of God

  • You’re grieving lost trust, community, or spiritual connection

  • You long to rebuild your faith—without fear or pressure

I work with women coming out of high-control, performance-based, or spiritually manipulative environments.

Do You Have Questions?

Not Sure Where to Begin?

If you have any questions about counselling, workshops, or finding the right support—I’d love to hear from you.

Whether you're unsure what you need, want to check if we're a good fit, or just need a little clarity before booking, you’re warmly invited to reach out.

📧 Email me directly at admin@yourstoryint.com

Gentle, Expressive Support Options

Some stories are too deep for words.

Alongside talk therapy, you’re welcome to explore gentle creative or body-based practices that support healing. (No artistic skill needed—just curiosity and permission to heal in your own way.)

  • Therapeutic art to express emotions beyond words

  • Reflective journaling for insight and clarity

  • Somatic tools to help calm anxiety and reconnect with your body

A Path to Healing, Hope, and Rest

If you’ve been carrying the weight of church hurt, I invite you into a space of healing.

Through trauma-informed counselling, we’ll gently explore:

✨ Your personal story—how past spiritual wounds are shaping your faith today
✨ How to separate God’s truth from religious control or fear-based beliefs
✨ Emotional and nervous system regulation—to help ease anxiety and spiritual triggers
✨ Boundaries—learning to protect your peace without guilt
✨ Restoring a healthy, grace-filled relationship with God

For some, creative therapies like therapeutic art and reflective journaling provide an additional layer of healing—offering a gentle, expressive way to process emotions beyond words.

This is not about fixing your faith or forcing you back into a church setting before you’re ready. This is about you—your heart, your healing, and rediscovering the unshakable love of Jesus.

Jesus never came to burden you—He came to restore you.

Let that truth rise again.

Hi, I’m Amanda.

BA Psychology | Postgraduate Certificate in Human Services | Diploma in Counselling | Diploma in Holistic Integrated Creative Arts Therapy

I support women who’ve experienced religious trauma, sexual trauma, betrayal, or church hurt—especially within high-control or spiritually pressuring environments.

I know what it’s like to love God deeply, yet feel disoriented by pain, confusion, and disappointment from within the church.

I’ve been there myself—clouded by confusion and pain.

But through self-compassion, wise counsel, shifting from old people-pleasing mindsets, and experiencing the delight of creative therapies, I was able to move from exhaustion and into restoration.

Now, I walk alongside other women as they rebuild their faith, their peace, and their sense of self—free from shame and religious pressure.

You don’t have to perform for God.
You don’t have to prove your worth.
You don’t have to walk this road alone.

Wherever you are on your journey—I’d be honoured to support you.

If you’ve been carrying these wounds quietly, maybe today is the day to begin.

Book a confidential First Session—designed to meet you where you are.

Not Ready for Counselling Yet?

Start with a gentle, downloadable resource.

Healing from Church Hurt is a faith-sensitive journaling guide designed for Christian women recovering from spiritual betrayal or religious abuse.

What’s Inside:
– 7 themed journaling reflections
– Scripture-based encouragement
– A printable guide to recognising healthy leadership

Only $4.47 AUD | Instant Download

You Are Not Alone

Religious trauma and church hurt can leave you feeling isolated, confused, and even ashamed for questioning your experiences. But you are not alone.

You are not too broken.
And your questions do not disqualify you from healing.

If you’re ready to begin, I invite you to book a confidential online counselling session.

➡ I would like to try a First Session.

➡ [Learn more about Amanda’s approach]