Religious Residue

Even after you've left a religious group or cult, distanced yourself from the teachings, or completely walked away, pieces of it can still stick. That’s what I mean when I talk about religious residue. It’s the internalized messages, habits, fears, and doubts that keep showing up, even when you know they no longer serve you.

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It might sound like an anxious voice whispering, “What if they were right?” Or the guilt that creeps in when you rest, speak up, or prioritize your own needs. It might look like perfectionism, black-and-white thinking, or the fear of making the “wrong” choice, even in small everyday decisions. Sometimes it’s subtle. Sometimes it’s loud.

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Religious residue is real. It’s not your imagination, and it doesn’t mean you’re weak or failing. You might have done all the “right” things to move on: read the books, left the community, even started a new life, and yet, these patterns still echo in your mind and body.

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That’s because these beliefs were often woven into your sense of identity from a young age. Undoing them takes time, care, and often, support. In our work together, we’ll start identifying what’s yours, and what was put there by someone else. We'll look at the rules you still feel beholden to, the fears that pop up out of nowhere, and the lingering sense that you’re “doing it wrong” just by living differently. You’ll have a space to be curious, honest, and compassionate with yourself.

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This isn’t about assigning blame—it’s about reclaiming your life. You get to choose what stays and what goes. You get to live from a place of self-trust, not fear.

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The past shaped you, but it doesn’t have to define your future.