Deconstruction Archives - Jane Kennedy Counselling

When Rejection Sensitivity Meets Religious Trauma: Understanding the Environment & the Impact

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), sometimes described simply as rejection sensitivity, is often misunderstood as “overreacting,” “being too emotional,” or “taking things personally.” But for many trauma survivors, especially those emerging from high-control or spiritually abusive environments, RSD is a trauma-shaped nervous system responding to perceived danger. Religious trauma often forms

16 November 2025

Daydreaming Again.

Almost a week ago I deleted the social media apps from my phone. It was getting hard to hear myself think and I needed to clear my head. And I find I’m daydreaming again, which is kind of lovely. Peace is our natural state. That doesn’t necessarily mean zen-like or even

24 July 2025

The State of Your Heart

This line, attributed to Persian Sufi poetry, gave me pause. How would you answer it? I love the impermanence of it, in this breath. It’s mindful and present. It suggests we don’t have to know the whole answer, just the thought for this moment.There is so much noise in the world right now. So much urgency and fear. The state of our heart seems like a trite or indulgent thing to attend to when there are “real” problems to be anxious about. For those who have been shaped by faith spaces that centred end times, Armageddon, or apocalyptic pressure, and I see so many in the counselling room, this can feel especially overwhelming.

26 June 2025

New Look eCourse!

This introductory course is designed to broaden your understanding of religious trauma, spiritual abuse and painful experiences in high-demand church or faith settings.

What I Wish my Therapist knew about Religious Trauma includes downloadable resources, eBook “The Sentimental Non-Believer. On Loving & Leaving God” as well as the stories of others with lived experience.

21 May 2025

Easter & a New Spirituality

We cycle through phases of grief and healing when we’ve experienced religious and spiritual trauma.Easter brings us face-to-face with where we are in that cycle and if we’re paying attention, our bodies will tell us what we need next

20 April 2025

The Resurrection of You

What does the word resurrection mean to you? Is it loaded or can you reclaim it? What have you come alive to? Leaving church and / or God is often one of the most painful things we can go through. But there is life, freedom and relief to be found

20 April 2025

Holy Hurt

I joked last week on my Instagram stories that I’ve long had a therapist crush* on Canadian Psychologist, Dr Hillary McBride, whose new book, Holy Hurt is coming out soon. Hillary was my inspiration for becoming a therapist. Back in the days when she co-hosted The Liturgist’s Podcast, I was working in

15 April 2025

What to do with regret?

Reconnecting with and rebuilding our identity helps us move through regret.

It’s a corrective experience to become who we needed then, and settle into ourselves more fully.

And, reconditioning our thinking around identity is a huge part of recovery from religious trauma.

I love working with people in counselling as they unearth and rebuild.

14 February 2025

A Bit Floaty

We’re almost there aren’t we? That time of the year that feels ridiculous, that’s counted in days until we get to stop for a while and recover from the year that was. I’m noticing my own uptick in things to do and places to be and like Coco Chanel I’m taking off at least

4 December 2024

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