Religious Trauma Syndrome: Recognizing, Assessing, and Treating the Psychological Impact of Religious and Spiritual Harm

Religious Trauma Syndrome: Recognizing, Assessing, and Treating the Psychological Impact of Religious and Spiritual Harm

Workshop Description

Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS) is a term used to describe psychological and emotional distress that may develop following harmful, coercive, authoritarian, or fear-based religious experiences. Although RTS is not currently recognized as a formal diagnosis in the DSM-5-TR, individuals affected by religious or spiritual trauma may present with symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress, anxiety, depression, shame, identity disruption, relationship difficulties, grief, moral injury, and difficulty trusting themselves or others.

This workshop examines religious trauma from a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and clinically ethical perspective. Participants will explore how religious beliefs and communities can function as important sources of identity, resilience, belonging, and support while also recognizing circumstances in which religious authority, doctrine, family systems, or community practices may contribute to psychological harm. Particular attention will be given to spiritual abuse, coercive control, fear-based teachings,…