NARM Training Institute

In this webinar, NARM Master Therapist, Sherri Sharkins and Dr. Laurence Heller discuss religious and spiritual trauma, defining it as harm caused by someone in a position of power within a religious or spiritual context. They highlight that this trauma can range from subtle biases to severe abuse, profoundly impacting an individual's connection to themselves and something greater than themselves. The speakers emphasize how this trauma disrupts personal identity, as people may disconnect from their hurt or misused parts and grapple with tenacious identifications linked to religious teachings.

Furthermore, Dr. Heller and Sherri Sharkins explore the abuse of spiritual and religious authority, citing examples of religious blackmail and sexual abuse. They also delve into how religious and spiritual trauma can hinder access to authentic spirituality, causing individuals to disconnect from the universe and any perceived higher power. The webinar also addresses the distorted relationship many traditions have with anger, distinguishing between the emotion and its behavioral expression, and how spiritual and religious teachings can lead to internal conflict.