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
Doctrine over Personhood
When church teachings matter more than your actual story, feelings, or needs
You were told to stay in a harmful marriage because divorce was a sin.
You were ignored or silenced when your identity didn’t fit the church’s rules.
You felt like your pain didn’t matter if it didn’t match their beliefs.
Potential clinical implications (especially in high control settings)
A sense of worth may become linked to conformity rather than selfhood.
Believing one’s own needs and voice matter may become difficult.
Deep confusion or shame around identity may take root.