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
Piety Performance
Acting super “spiritual” or religious to appear holy or earn approval
You felt pressure to pray out loud in a certain way.
You raised your hands in worship even when you didn’t feel it.
You shared spiritual insights to seem more faithful.
Potential clinical implications (especially in high control settings)
A sense of disconnection from authenticity may develop.
Self-worth might become tied to perceived spiritual performance.
Shame may arise when behaviors no longer align with external expectations.