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
Theological Stockholm Syndrome
Continued emotional loyalty to harmful theology or religious authority due to conditioning or fear
You still feel loyal to a pastor who manipulated or abused you.
You defend doctrines that once made you feel ashamed or unworthy.
You feel guilt for questioning teachings you know harmed others.
Potential clinical implications (especially in high control settings)
Trauma bonding can develop with abusive religious figures or systems.
Cognitive dissonance and shame often accompany these experiences.
Internalized spiritual abuse narratives can delay healing.