Introduction: A Journey of Transformation and Trust
In many communities across the United States, religion serves as a powerful cultural foundation. But for some, particularly those raised in high-control groups or cult-like environments, faith becomes a source of deep emotional pain. Trauma can linger long after someone has left a harmful spiritual setting. That’s where Change with Dane steps in.
Whether you’re a parent looking for support, someone unraveling their faith, or a reader drawn to powerful stories of personal evolution, Change with Dane offers something rare: a trauma-informed, inclusive space to heal, grow, and reclaim your voice.
Meet Dane: A Therapist with Cult Recovery Experience and Heart
At the core of Change with Dane is Dane, a licensed therapist, coach, and religious trauma expert who combines professional expertise with personal experience. Dane’s practice was born from a passion to support individuals breaking free from religious or cultic control—and the emotional, psychological, and spiritual wounds that come with it.
What makes Dane truly unique is their ability to blend lived experience with clinical training. Many clients describe feeling “seen” for the first time in therapy—because Dane gets it. They’ve walked this road too. That lived empathy creates a strong foundation of trust.
Dane’s practice goes beyond textbook strategies; they listen with genuine care, validate even the messiest feelings, and offer a clear path forward—especially for those who feel stuck between belief systems, family expectations, and a desire for autonomy.
What is Religious Trauma?
Religious trauma is a form of psychological harm that occurs in spiritual environments where fear, control, shame, or manipulation is used to enforce compliance. This trauma is often rooted in:
- Fear of eternal punishment (hell, judgment, sin)
- Control over behavior, identity, and choices
- Suppression of sexuality and gender expression
- Indoctrination against critical thinking or questioning
- Emotional and sometimes physical abuse in the name of faith
For individuals raised in cults or high-control religious groups, these effects are intensified. Survivors often experience:
- Complex PTSD
- Chronic guilt or shame
- Identity confusion
- Isolation from family or community
- Difficulty trusting others—including therapists
Identity Rebuilding Therapy: A Key to Long-Term Healing
One of the most devastating consequences of religious trauma is the loss of identity. When you’ve been told who you are—what to believe, how to feel, who to love—it’s difficult to answer the simple question: Who am I, really?
Dane’s work in identity rebuilding therapy supports clients as they:
- Reclaim their autonomy
- Identify internalized religious messages
- Rebuild their moral compass without fear
- Discover joy and self-worth outside of a religious framework
- Set boundaries and develop authentic relationships
This work is often deeply emotional—but it’s also freeing. For many clients, it’s the first time they’ve been allowed to exist just as they are.
Types of Therapy and Healing Modalities Used
Dane uses a diverse toolkit tailored to each client’s unique needs and comfort level. These may include:
1. Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Helps clients reframe damaging belief systems and shift thought patterns rooted in fear or shame.
2. Somatic Experiencing
A body-based approach to release trauma held in the nervous system. Many survivors of spiritual abuse carry tension, hypervigilance, or physical pain—somatic work gently helps the body feel safe again.
3. Narrative Therapy
Clients are encouraged to re-write their personal stories—not from the perspective of “sin” or “failure,” but from one of survival, courage, and growth.
4. Inner Child Work
For many, religious trauma started in childhood. Dane helps clients connect with and nurture their inner child, building emotional resilience from the inside out.
5. Creative Expression
Writing, art, movement, and voice work are often integrated into sessions. These nonverbal tools help bypass intellectual defenses and access deeper healing.
Therapy for Parents: Breaking the Cycle
Many of Dane’s clients are parents seeking to raise emotionally healthy children after leaving religious environments that damaged them. Therapy helps them:
- Unlearn authoritarian parenting models
- Foster emotional intelligence and open dialogue
- Teach consent, autonomy, and body safety
- Support children through religious questioning (or nonbelief)
One of Dane’s specialties is intergenerational healing—supporting clients in ending cycles of guilt, shame, and silence so their children can grow up feeling safe, supported, and whole.
Memoir-Lovers Welcome: Honoring the Power of Story
Memoirs are powerful because they remind us we’re not alone. At Change with Dane, personal stories are central to the healing process. Whether you’ve written your own story or draw strength from others’, you’ll find a shared sense of resilience here.
Clients often reference memoirs like Educated by Tara Westover or Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes Du Mez. These books mirror the experiences Dane hears in session—and validate them.
As one client put it:
“Reading memoirs helped me understand what happened to me. Therapy with Dane helped me move past it.”
Community and Group Offerings
In addition to one-on-one therapy, Change with Dane hosts:
- Support groups for survivors of high-demand religious environments
- Workshops on boundary-setting, rebuilding spirituality, and navigating holidays
- Webinars on parenting after purity culture, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and more
These programs foster connection, education, and solidarity—especially important for those who’ve lost community during their deconstruction journey.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Do I need to be completely out of religion to work with Dane?
No. Dane supports clients at all stages—from questioning to complete deconversion. The goal is not to lead you away from religion, but to help you find freedom and authenticity, whatever that looks like for you.
Q: Can Dane help with spiritual trauma that didn’t happen in a cult?
Yes. Even mainstream religious environments can be harmful. If your experience included fear, guilt, shame, or control—you deserve support.
Q: Are sessions virtual or in-person?
All sessions are currently held virtually for accessibility across the United States.
Q: Is therapy LGBTQ+ affirming?
Absolutely. Dane is fully affirming of LGBTQ+ clients and specializes in helping those harmed by non-affirming religious teachings.
Q: What if I don’t know where to start?
That’s okay. Many clients begin therapy unsure of what they need—Dane gently helps you explore your story, at your own pace.
Real Stories, Real Impact
Here are more client reflections that showcase the transformative nature of working with Dane:
“Dane didn’t just give me tools—they gave me back my life.”
— Client formerly in a fundamentalist Christian sect
“I used to wake up with anxiety every day. Now I trust myself again.”
— Survivor of purity culture
“My kids are safer because I went to therapy. That means everything.”
— Parent and ex-member of a controlling religious group
Rebuilding Life After Religious Trauma
Healing religious trauma is not just about “moving on.” It’s about moving through the grief, rage, and confusion—toward something whole, meaningful, and uniquely yours. Dane understands how scary that first step can be. But you’re not alone anymore.
Clients report increased self-trust, deeper relationships, and a renewed sense of purpose after therapy. Many even go on to become advocates for others, reclaiming their voice not just for themselves, but for their communities.
Final Thoughts: There is Life After Spiritual Abuse
Leaving a religion or cult isn’t the end of the story—it’s the beginning of a new one. You get to write it. Change with Dane exists to support you every step of the way.
You don’t need to be “fully healed” or have all the answers to reach out. All you need is the willingness to begin. Because even in the rubble of religious trauma, a life of joy, connection, and self-love can still be built.