Your Friend, The Therapist

Narcissism, Gaslighting, and High-Control Groups Alisa Stamps is a therapist who helps adult children of narcissists, cult abuse and religious trauma survivors, and those struggling with disordered eating and body image overcome their emotional and relational trauma so that they can discover their true authentic selves. She is the author of The Gaslighting Recovery Journal--Prompts and Practices f...

The Way You Feel Is More Important Than The Way You Look Libby is an artist who was in the Presbyterian Church in America until she was 38. Libby describes herself as a nature-loving Atheopaganist, neuro-spicy queer dryad with misophonia. Libby is a parent to three kids and lover of French fries. You can follow Libby on Instagram at @libby_newell.  In this conversation, Kari interviews artist Libb...

Moriah Conant (she/they) is a psychologist-in-training who specializes in working with the LGBTQIA+ community, especially in the areas of trauma, identity development, and identity integration. She utilizes a relational psychodynamic approach to therapy, along with feminist psychology and LGBTQIA+ affirming psychology. They are particularly passionate about helping people heal from religious traum...

An Ice Age Dildo That’s Older Than Jesus: The Sex Ed You Didn’t Get In Purity Culture Erica Smith is an award winning sexuality educator and consultant with over 20 years of experience. Throughout her career, she has provided comprehensive sex education and advocacy to young women and LGBTQ+ youth in Philadelphia’s juvenile justice system, worked in abortion care, and supported HIV+ and transgende...

Spiritual Identity Disruption For over two decades, Rebekah Drumsta has held a global presence through devoting her efforts to various nonprofits and organizations.  Her background is diverse, including educational and mental health content development, international relations, and public speaking. Currently, Rebekah is the Interim Chief Executive Officer of NPE Friends Fellowship , an internation...

Hannah Brents is a therapist with a private practice in Massachusetts, Texas, and Florida. She also has a background in religious studies, yoga, and meditation. You can find her on Instagram at @theologytherapist. You can listen to her episode on Season 1 of Your Friend The Therapist here: Meditation & Spirituality After High Control Religion with Hannah Brents. In this conversation, therapist Han...

Healing From Purity Culture through The Divorced Virgin Project The Divorced Virgin Project, created by Mindy Tyler, is a comprehensive program dedicated to the transformative journey of religious deconstruction, integration and healing. You can follow Mindy on Instagram @thedivorcedvirgin and The Divorced Virgin Project at @thedivorcedvirginproject. You can also learn more about the project at ht...

The Power of Storytelling in the Deconstruction Process Maggie (she/her) runs the instagram account @hello_deconstructionists and hosts the podcast Hello Deconstructionists, where she is building community post evangelicalism. She is a religious trauma survivor and a dedicated therapy client where she’s working hard to understand who she is outside of religion. Her goal is to share parts of her ow...

Guest Bio Michelle F. Moseley is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in North Carolina. She believes ALL people deserve respect, compassion, and access to mental and physical healthcare. Michelle specializes in working with survivors of religious trauma and spiritual abuse, and those who are exiting a high-control religion. She also works with folks around body image concerns, anxiety, grief, and l...

Megan Von Fricken is a licensed clinical social worker with a virtual psychotherapy practice where she specializes in helping people recover from religious harm. You can follow Megan on Instagram at @reclaimingself.therapy. You can listen to Megan’s episode on Season 1 of Your Friend The Therapist here: Accepting Your Authentic Self with Megan Von Fricken.  In this conversation, Megan Von Fricken,...

Emily Maynard (she/her) is a licensed therapist in California. She grew up at the intersection of Evangelical and Fundamentalist Christianity, and now she specializes in helping people heal from religious trauma. She loves helping smart, sensitive people embody new stories. You can find Emily on Instagram at @emilymaynardlmft and on her website https://emilymaynardtherapy.com/ .  In this conversat...

Brandon Flanery is an ex-pastor, ex-missionary, and ex-evangelical who writes about the tenuous intersection of faith and sexuality. He’s conducted research on the consequences of beliefs and why people are leaving Christianity. His writings are featured in The Scribe, Baptist News Global, the University of Colorado, and the Colorado Springs Indy, and his debut book, Stumbling: A Sassy Memoir abou...

Summary In this episode, Kari introduces the concept of religious harm and adverse religious experiences. She defines religious harm as any experience of a religious belief, practice, or structure that undermines an individual's sense of safety or autonomy and negatively impacts their well-being. Kari explains that adverse religious experiences can lead to trauma, but the way trauma is experienced...

The Cycle Chats Network is a collection of women hosted podcasts that look to have thought provoking conversations that will inspire you to break the cycle of generational traumas, societals pressures, mental health stigmas, women's health advocacy, and toxic relationships. Each of the Cycle Chats shows looks to empower you to break the patterns within yourself that no longer serve you through the...

Rachel Duvall (she/her), LICSW, MFA, is an actor and dancer turned therapist who specializes in helping individuals heal from anxiety, trauma, and burnout. She's inspired to help others find true, effective self-care after many years of burnout and secondary trauma in the world of non-profits. She integrates somatic and trauma therapies like Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and EMDR with expressive arts...

Healing from Religious Trauma & Reclaiming Your Inherent Goodness with Rachel Tumlinson Rachel (she/her)  is a certified Somatic Practitioner who has training in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She writes about healing from trauma (especially religious trauma) as she is a survivor herself, as well as a mother of two living in Corpus Christi, Texas. You can connect with Rachel on Instagram at @m...

Maria Moore (she/her) spent the first years of her life as an Old Colony Mennonite in Mexico. Her life exposed her to emotional and sexual abuse which was also the life that her mother endured. Generational trauma and the murder of her father are the foundations with which she was provided at a young age. Through education (as a registered nurse) she has learned how to take the shame of her past t...

Jessica Schafer (she/her) spends most of her time at the moment parenting three littles and when she's not doing that she loves to write poetry, be outside, make things with her hands and listen to people in a deep and supportive way. You can connect with Jessica on Instagram @jessicawiebeschafer and on her website jessicawiebeschafer.com where you can purchase her collection of poems, Maybe This...

Maggie (she/her) runs the instagram account @hello_deconstructionists where she is building community post evangelicalism. She is a religious trauma survivor and a dedicated therapy client where she’s working hard to understand who she is outside of religion. Her goal is to share parts of her own story and bring other survivors together to help them know they’re not alone on their deconstruction j...

My guests today are Natalie Wong, Mandee Nicole, and Katie Kuntz-Wineland.  You can follow and connect with these guests in the following places: Natalie Wong (she/her) can be found on Instagram at @exevangelicalnz . You can listen to Natalie’s previous episode on Your Friend, The Therapist here . Mandee Nicole (she/her) can be found on Instagram at @innerlightbotanicals , on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠Inner...

Jen Ellis (she/her) is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and has a virtual private practice in Massachusetts. She works 1:1 with folks in their twenties and thirties around anxiety, burnout, high sensitivity and family of origin concerns. She also enjoys her work with folks in the helping professions. A big part of Jen's work is helping clients recognize their self-worth and values and becoming m...

Emily Maynard (she/her) is a licensed therapist in California. She grew up at the intersection of Evangelical and Fundamentalist Christianity, and now she specializes in helping people heal from religious trauma. She loves helping smart, sensitive people embody new stories. You can connect with Emily on her website www.emilymaynardtherapy.com and on Instagram at @emilymaynardlmft.  The books menti...

Jeremy Schumacher (he/him) is a licensed marriage and family therapist and owner of Wellness with Jer. Jeremy is also the host of the "Your Therapist Needs Therapy" podcast. You can connect with Jeremy on his website www.wellnesswithjer.com . He’s also on Instagram @wellnesswithjer and Youtube. Check out his podcast, Your Therapist Needs Therapy, wherever you listen to podcasts! (You can find my c...

Stacey Schultz (they/she) is a board certified massage therapist and Rosen Method Bodywork Practitioner in Minneapolis, MN. Stacey holds space for those deconstructing from religion and/or embracing their queer identity. They believe deeply in the transformative power of touch and presence.  You can connect with Stacey on Instagram at @stacey.l.schultz.   website: staceylschultz.com Your Friend, T...

Megan Von Fricken is a licensed clinical social worker with a virtual psychotherapy practice where she specializes in helping people recover from religious harm. You can find Megan on Instagram at @reclaimingself.therapy. Books we mentioned in the episode are: A Radical Awakening by Dr. Shefali No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz Find a transcript of our conversation here .  This is a public episode....