Join the Support Group!

Are you an inactive, active, or unsure female who is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses? Are you okay? Does your current congregation feel safe? Or, if you are inactive, how long has it been???? Are you at peace?

Join the support group by emailing Mira at mira@miracassidy.com or simply sending her a text at 317-620-1592.

We have regular Zoom meetings on Sundays from 12p Est to 12:30Esp where we learn, chat, connect, journal, and work on healing.

*Please note. This support group is for women who identify as JWs, and who have experienced religious trauma or abuse from other JWs. The intention is for this to be a safe place. We are a very vulnerable community and we must all respect each other and where we fall on the spectrum.

(Mira believes in supporting men and women if she is able, no matter if they are a JW or not. This includes disfellowshipped and exJWs. If you feel that you can benefit from connecting with Mira directly, she can be reached at mira@miracassidy.com. Please allow her some time to respond to your inquiry.)

Please remember this is a support group, a learning and healing space. This is a space to find community. This is not therapy and this support group does not represent the JW worldwide organization.

What is Religious Trauma Syndrome?

According to Dr. Marlene Winell, psychologist and religious trauma practitioner, who is credited with coining the term in 2011, “Religious Trauma Syndrome is a set of simultaneous symptoms and characteristics that are related to harmful experiences with religion.”

What is Religious Trauma/Abuse?

Spiritual abuse or religious abuse, simply put, is when anyone within the congregation repeatedly makes you feel harm. This could be in the form of belittling, stalking, hovering over us at the Kingdom Hall, creating gossip, or getting others to shun us. It could be caused by an elder, a pioneer, a publisher, a circuit overseer, etc. It can come from a spouse abusing us at home or family members using scriptural text to control us. It is a pattern of consistent behavior, and it can lead to severe mental, emotional, financial, and physical symptoms. When these feelings occur consistently over time, religious trauma syndrome may occur. This behavior may be intentional or unintentional. It is still abuse. Spiritual abuse IS domestic violence or interpersonal abuse.

Learn more by reading my Indianapolis Recorder article here: https://indianapolisrecorder.com/ending-religious-abuse-i-am-a-survivor-of-religious-trauma/