Recovering from fundamentalist upbringing
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Recovering from fundamentalist upbringing
Hello there,
I've been realizing how much my fundamentalist religious background has been
affecting my life even though its been a while since I went to church. I still get
scared maybe they were right and I have trouble trusting myself or just enjoying life.
I also have a very hard time relating to family members that are still believers. Can
anyone suggest a therapist that specializes in this? Does anyone relate?
Hoping
Marlene Winell, author of ''Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former
Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion'', has moved her
psychotherapy practice to Berkeley. She has individual sessions as well
as group ones, 510-649-1256. I am proudly in ''religious recovery''; you
might check her website (www.marlenewinell.com) to see if her background
and approach seem right for you.
Sarah
I know Lor Fjerkenstad, who is the former director of Center for
Psychological and Spirtual Health, does specialize in spiritual and
religious issues. She works out of Holos Institute in the Rockridge
area of Oakland.
She can be reached at 510-273-9388.
Anon
After leaving a fundamentalist church, it was several years before I was
comfortable in a church setting -- even a religiously liberal church.
But thanks to a boyfriend (now
husband) who is also a former fundamentalist, I ventured into a
Unitarian Universalist church. There I found many like-minded spiritual
people and teaching/preaching that has helped me develop my own
non-fundamentalist non-hellfire/damnation faith.
I would recommend visiting one of the local UU churches, or perhaps a
Quaker church, or some other established religiously liberal group. I
stress the term ''established'' because there are many cults who will
prey on people seeking support and help.
(If you are wondering about what makes a group a cult, try googling
Robert J. Lifton's 8 criteria for mind control or the International
Cultic Studies Association.)
- immigrant to the religious left
this page was last updated: Jun 15, 2006
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