Contact Forest

Compassionate and evidence-based therapy

I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist who provides online therapy throughout California. I primarily treat religious trauma, sexual shame, and C-PTSD. As an IFS therapist, I can also help people with relationship difficulties, anxiety, unhealthy coping, depression, life transitions, self-criticism, and many other mental health challenges. I enjoy working with Highly Sensitive People.

Whether you are non-religious, devoutly religious, or somewhere in between, you may have experienced some form of religious trauma. It can impact relationships, sense of self, & every area of life. If you were harmed by religious experiences, I am here to help. I provide compassionate, evidence-based support to help individuals heal trauma and sexual shame related to adverse religious experiences. I help people compassionately reconnect with themselves and help them heal their pain, anxiety, worthlessness, depression, shame, self-hatred, and other negative impacts of religious trauma. I help them learn to love themselves again.

I use IFS to help people heal religious trauma and sexual shame. As they heal, I support them in creating the life they want to live. I am Level 1 & 2 trained in IFS and working on a certification in Religious Trauma Studies. I provide non-religious therapy & respect the beliefs of clients.

I know how disorienting and difficult it can be to question long-held beliefs, leave a faith community, heal religious trauma/shame, and find ones own way. With the right tools and support, healing is possible. We can create lives that are authentic, safe, and free.

Schedule your free phone consultation

If you are ready to begin your therapy journey, I am accepting new clients for online therapy throughout California and I would love to work with you.

I invite you to schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation with me to see if my services are a good fit for you. I can be reached by phone at (916) 702-3528 or by email at ForestBenedictLMFT@forestbenedict.com. See also my Psychology Today and Therapy Den profiles for additional information about the communities I serve and my services.