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
Undue Influence
When pressure, fear, or manipulation override your ability to freely choose
You were told you'd lose your salvation if you didn’t follow certain teachings, even if they harmed you.
You felt forced to stay in the group because you feared eternal punishment or losing your family.
Potential clinical implications (especially in high control settings)
Confidence in making free, autonomous decisions may be compromised.
Shame or confusion may linger around decisions made under coercion.
Trauma symptoms can arise from chronic fear, control, or loss of agency.