Uncategorized

At this time of year it’s hard to avoid dealing with the differences you have with your family. If you are a “reclaimer” (reclaiming your life after being religious) who has been raised in a religious household, holiday times can be very uncomfortable when other family members are still devout.  Having worked through these issues with many clients, here are a few guidelines that might be helpful.

I’ll start by suggesting you write in a journal, starting now and continuing through the holidays. This can help you sort through jumbled thoughts and emotions, stay on track with how you are trying to handle things, take care of yourself, and learn.  There are exercises here to prompt your thinking.

In general, if you plan to be with family at this time, it helps a great deal to approach the holidays with a high level of consciousness.  In other words, don’t just blindly go home for Christmas, hoping it will be fine.  What do you really expect it might be like?  This refers to both external factors and how you will feel.  What experiences have you had so far with your family?  What have you found to work or not work in getting along?  Write something about this in your journal. (more…)

Dr. Tarico is a psychologist from Seattle and a member of Journey Free’s Board of Advisors. Her insights on religion and psychology are unparalleled. Don’t miss her book, Trusting Doubt, and read her blog, Awaypoint.wordpress.com. She also has a YouTube channel called Trusting Doubt.

Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

“I am greatly troubled by what you say. I wrote Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn for adults exclusively, and it always distresses me when I find that boys and girls have been allowed access to them. (more…)

By Marlene Winell, Ph.D.

I get this question so frequently, I’ve made a real effort to reply. To be honest, I don’t like the question because it presumes we know what those words mean. Here are some responses, touching on more or less serious aspects of the topic.

1. Which god? Do you mean Zeus, Baal, Athena, Shiva, Allah, Jehovah, or some other? If you mean one of those, then no. I am not a theist. I don’t believe in an individual being that created and now controls the world.
(more…)

This is a YouTube series of 3 videos from Marlene’s talk at a retreat, explaining why she thinks the most important thing about accepting evolution has nothing to do with the Garden of Eden.  It’s about understanding ourselves for who we are – animals.  (more…)

Here’s my talk on “Leaving the Fold” at the Exmormon Foundation Conference on Oct. 15, 2011 in Salt Lake City.  I think former Mormons are to be commended for making it out of such a controlling religion and powerful social system. Religious Trauma Syndrome explained at Exmormon Conference    

This article by Pete Walker is a good explanation of “emotional flashbacks” and complex PTSD, which result from childhood neglect and emotional abuse (common to RTS).  In essence, current stress can trigger old pain; recognizing the signs and learning to manage the emotional reactions is important for healthy functioning.  I Read more…

Casting Off , by Anne Bokma. For those who reject the strict religion of their childhood, it’s not cutting ties with their church that’s hardest. It’s breaking away from their devout parents. Even as a young boy, Peter Scott knew he was out of place in the Pentecostal church he Read more…