Religious trauma 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

Weekly Meditation

Want to be part of a gentle experiment with me? Because I need it too, I’ve started offering a free Wednesday morning Havening and somatic meditation drop in, for 20mins. I feel the pull of the divisiveness and toxicity online just like you. I feel the anger and the grief

3 October 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

Dont F*ck The Flock!

I’ve been on a few podcasts over the past few years talking about the impact of religious trauma in the therapy room. The most recent conversation I had with Jaime Simpson was personal. It was about her story but also my experience of her story. The new podcast is called

9 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

A Day With a Memoir

We start to have doubts and questions but want to stay and try and change it as an insider. We feel broken when we realise this isn’t possible. So many of us limp away devastated and feeling very alone, shamed and told we’re the problem. With the right support we recover and rebuild.

I’m so grateful to have had that support in the end after many years of trying to figure it out by myself. Reach out if you need that support. It’s not an easy journey.

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

A Good Friday Note

You are good on this Friday.
You are not broken.
Your heart is good, your body is good. You are loveable.