Religious Trauma Therapy in Sandy, Utah
A place to sort through it all, without anyone telling you what to believe.
Maybe this sounds familiar
You grew up being told exactly who to be. What to wear, who to love, what to want, what happens if you get it wrong. For a long time, it might have even felt like home.
And then something shifted. Maybe it was slow, a question you couldn't stop asking. Maybe it was sudden. Either way, you're here now, and it's a lot.
Maybe you're noticing things like:
Guilt or shame that shows up out of nowhere, even when you know you didn't do anything wrong
A harsh inner voice that sounds a lot like a church leader, a parent, or a lesson you heard at twelve
Anxiety about getting things "right," or fear that something bad will happen if you don't
Feeling like you don't know who you are outside of what you were taught
Tension or grief with family, a spouse, or friends who still believe
Feeling disconnected from your body, your sexuality, or your own wants
Loneliness, because the community you had was built around the thing you're questioning
If you're nodding along, you're not broken, and you're definitely not alone. These are really normal responses to growing up in a high-control or shame-based environment.
I get it, because I've been there
I became a therapist because of my own mental health struggles and the trauma I experienced from my family and religion. I know how disorienting it is to realize the framework you built your whole life on doesn't fit anymore, and how hard it is to know where to even start.
So here's what I can promise: you won't have to explain the basics to me or defend why this is hard. You can just show up as you are.
What religious trauma therapy with me is (and isn't)
It isn't about pushing you away from faith. Some of my clients leave religion completely. Some find a new way to believe. Some land somewhere in the middle, or are still figuring it out. All of those are okay. My job isn't to steer you anywhere. It's to help you get back in touch with you, so whatever you decide actually comes from you.
It is about healing the stuff that's still running in the background. The shame, the fear, the people-pleasing, the "I'm not good enough" that got wired in early. That's what we work on together.
Whether you grew up LDS, evangelical, Catholic, or in another tradition, and whether you're in the middle of a faith crisis or left years ago and are still feeling the effects, there's room for you here.
How we work on it
I use a few approaches that are especially helpful for religious trauma, and I'll adapt them to what fits you.
Internal Family Systems (IFS). You probably have a part of you that still feels guilty, a part that's angry, and a part that misses what you lost. IFS helps you get curious about all of them instead of fighting yourself. Every part of you is welcome, even the ones that still believe.
EMDR. Some memories stay "stuck," like a talk in a bishop's office, a moment of public shame, or a fear you were taught as a kid. EMDR helps your brain reprocess those memories so they stop hitting with the same force.
DBT and CBT skills. When anxiety, guilt, or big emotions take over, these give you practical tools to calm your nervous system and catch the old thought patterns as they happen.
Through all of it, you're the expert on your own life. I'm here as support, not as another authority telling you what's true.
Who I work with
Adults working through a faith crisis, faith transition, or the aftermath of leaving religion
Teens who are questioning, or who feel they can't be themselves at home or at church
People in mixed-faith relationships who want to stay connected while believing differently
In person in Sandy, or online anywhere in Utah
My office is in Sandy, and I also offer online therapy for anyone in Utah. For a lot of people working through religious trauma, especially in a small town where everyone knows everyone, meeting from home just feels safer, and that's completely fine.
I take commercial Select Health and commercial United Healthcare plans, and I can provide superbills if you're using out-of-network benefits.
Common questions
Do I have to have left my religion to come to therapy for this?
Nope. Plenty of my clients are still active, still deciding, or somewhere in between. You don't need to have it figured out to start.
Will you be critical of my family or my church?
No. Your relationships and beliefs are yours. We'll focus on how you've been affected and what you want going forward, not on judging anyone.
Is "religious trauma" a real thing?
Yes. It isn't a formal diagnosis, but the symptoms are very real: anxiety, shame, depression, trauma responses, and struggling with identity. Those are things therapy can really help with.
How long does it take?
It's different for everyone. Most people start with weekly sessions, and we'll check in regularly about how it's going and what you need.
You don't have to figure this out alone
If any of this hit home, let's talk. I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation so you can get a feel for me and see if we're a good fit. No pressure, no commitment.
Jared Barker, LCSW
White Willow Therapy · Sandy, UT · Online across Utah
(801) 380-2819