Resources

Support and Community

You are not alone! Find others both online and in your area to share experiences with.
Life After God - Peer Support - this site includes many resources including a secret Facebook support group for people leaving religion.
Release and Reclaim Online Support Group - a private support group with bimonthly video calls led by Dr. Marlene Winell who is an expert on the subject of Religious Trauma Syndrome.
​Meetup.com Meetup is a great way to find like-minded people locally, especially now your church community does not feel like the safe place it used to be. Try looking for free-thinkers, humanists, agnostics (or even atheists). In some regions there are Recovering from Religion meetups. If you are just looking for new connections you might want to start with activities you enjoy such as hiking or photography.
Recovering from Religion - Peer Support - A telephone number is available if you just want to talk to someone who has an understanding of what you are going through.
Ex - Brethren Dutch Online Peer Group - a secret support group exclusively for former members or people who grew up within the Open Brethren - Vergadering van Gelovigen - in The Netherlands.
Dogmavrij - Dutch Peer Support Group - an online private group for Dutch people. The group was started by Inge Bosscha who works as a coach to help people when they are in the process, or after leaving their church community.
The Life After Community - Online Facebook group with subgroups available for support and discussion.
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Reading and Listening

Leaving the Fold - by Marlene Winell, Ph.D. - An eye-opening book about the harmful effects of growing up in a fundamentalist community. The author is the daughter of missionaries and weaves her personal story together with self help guidance. Dutch translation available here (Nederlandse vertaling): De Kudde Verlaten
Life After God - Podcasts - In each episode Ryan Bell, a former pastor, discusses with someone their personal journey regarding their faith transition.
Exvangelical - Podcasts - Blake Chastain is the host of this podcast which features stories of people living in, leaving of coming to term with Evangelical subcultures. There is a private support Facebook group available.
The Life After Podcast - Hosted by Brady Hardin and Chuck Parson. They interview people who have deconstructed their religion. Additionally there is a support group on Facebook with subgroups, including a LGBTQ+ one.
MindShift Podcast - Reconstruction after Deconstruction, hosted by Clint Heacock.

Professional Help

It may be hard to admit that you need professional help to tease things out. Today it has become a more and more accepted way to deal with personal struggles. When you are leaving religion you find yourself wary of religious or spiritual therapists who may guide you back to lean on your faith. This can feel so confusing.
Dr. Marlene Winell coined the term Religious Trauma Syndrome and not many therapists have been trained on this specific subject. It is important to find a therapist that has some familiarity on the topic of religious trauma or (childhood) trauma in general. Do your research and interview a therapist. Feel free to walk away from a therapist and try a new one if you feel it is not a good match. 
​Dr. Marlene Winell - Located in Oakland, CA. She offers coaching through Skype as well. Additionally she hosts weekend retreats twice a year.
Room To Thrive - Brian Peck, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and architect of the Healthy Deconversion Project. He specializes in religious-based trauma in his practice located in Boise, ID. Brian also offers online coaching for individuals navigating a deconversion and post-theists who want to live a more meaningful and connected life after religion.
​Life After God - Coaching - Personal and small group coaching through individualized plans.
​The Secular Therapy Project - The Secular Therapy Project will try to match you up with a secular therapist in your local area.
Dutch: Coaching voor Kerkverlaters - Inge Bosscha, de oprichtster van Dogmavrij verzorgt begeleiding en cursussen voor mensen die hun kerkgemeenschap achter zich hebben gelaten.

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