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
Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS)
A cluster of trauma symptoms experienced after leaving a high-control faith. The term was coined by Dr Marlene Winell in 2011.
You feel emotionally numb or overwhelmed in everyday situations.
You struggle to rebuild relationships or trust your own judgment.
Potential clinical implications (especially in high control settings)
Symptoms such as dissociation, anxiety, and depression may be present.
Moral uncertainty and fear may affect decision-making.
Rebuilding identity and support systems may be a long-term process.