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
Soft Shunning
Subtle ways you are excluded or ignored after expressing doubts or leaving the faith
Your friends stop inviting you to social events without ever saying why.
Conversations grow cold or awkward when you speak honestly about your changing beliefs.
Potential clinical implications (especially in high control settings)
Feelings of abandonment or rejection may surface, particularly from previously close relationships.
Heightened social anxiety or hypervigilance may develop in group settings.
Rejection may become internalized, leading to beliefs of being unlovable or wrong for changing.