Thou Shalt Not: Treating Religious Trauma and Spiritual Harm With Combined Therapy

Abstract

323 1 The author would like to thank Ronnie Levine, Jeff Hudson, and Stacy Nakell for their generous feedback and support. 2 Private practice, Austin. Correspondence should be addressed to Alyson M. Stone, PhD, CGP, 4103 Marathon, Suite F, Austin, TX 78756. E-mail: alyson@alysonmstone.com. That religion can be a source of harm and trauma is something most clinicians know well, yet this fact is underreported in the literature. Indeed, most of the existing research indicates a positive link between religion and mental health. There is likewise little information on spirituality’s impact on mental health when it is used to bypass problems, feelings, and needs. This article addresses this deficit by exploring the potentially harmful effects of religion and spirituality. It highlights the role of secure attachment and the combination of individual and group therapy to treat religious trauma and spiritual struggles.