Dr. Grisel Lopez-Escobar, PhD (in Counseling),
Licensed Mental Health Counselor Providing Virtual Therapy to Adult Clients
in the States of AK, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, ID, IN, LA, MA, ME, NV, OR, SC, TX, UT, VT, WI & WY, USA
Specializing in Supporting Clients who are Newly Secular or Deconstructing from High Control Religions, Groups or Cults: Religious Trauma / Faith Crisis, Religious Deconstruction / Purity Culture / Religious Residue / Mixed-Faith Relationships / Secular Therapy
Delayed Awareness Shock
A sudden realization (often years later) that your religious past was harmful or abusive
You suddenly connect your anxiety or perfectionism to teachings you absorbed as a child.
In therapy, you start to realize your fear of punishment was rooted in spiritual manipulation.
Potential clinical implications (especially in high control settings)
Grief over lost time or experiences may arise.
Anger toward former leaders or caregivers may emerge.
Confidence in personal judgment may become compromised.