Category: Faith

• 🎙️ New Podcast Interview: Porn is Not the Problem on the Divorcing Religion Podcast

  

  Discover Forest Benedict’s powerful new interview on the Divorcing Religion podcast: “Porn is Not the Problem.” Explore porn addiction myths, ethical porn, Internal Family Systems, and healing from religious trauma and sexual shame in this honest, hopeful conversation.

  Forest Benedict, LMFT

  June 23, 2025

  Addiction, Anti-Pornography Movement, Faith, IFS, Inspiration, LGBTQIA+, life after lust, pornography, Recovery, Religious trauma, self-compassion, Self-Connection, Sexual Addiction, Sexual shame, sexuality, Shame

  Authenticity And Freedom, deconstruction, Divorcing Religion, Ethical Porn, healing journey, IFS, Internal Family Systems, mental health, Podcast Interview, recovery, Religious trauma, self-compassion, self-connection, Sex Addiction Recovery, Sex Positive Therapy, Sexual Empowerment, Sexual Healing, Sexual shame, Shame Free Sexuality, Therapist Interview

• I Have Risen: A Poem of Self-Resurrection

  

  This soul-stirring poem reclaims religious imagery to tell a bold story of self-resurrection, power, and personal liberation. I Have Risen is not a religious piece—it’s a declaration of freedom, authenticity, and the end of self-abandonment. A must-read for anyone rising into their truth.

  Forest Benedict, LMFT

  April 20, 2025

  Change, Codependency, Faith, Inspiration, Neurodivergence, Poetry, Religious trauma, Self-Connection, Shame

  healing, IFS, religion, Religious trauma, resurrection, save yourself, self-connection, Sexual shame, trauma

• The Flame Within: A Hope Ritual for Troubled Times

  

  A powerful, non-religious IFS ritual to awaken hope, reclaim power, and stay grounded through the chaos of today’s political climate. We are not alone.

  Forest Benedict, LMFT

  April 14, 2025

  Change, Faith, Grief, IFS, Inspiration, Politics, Religious trauma, self-compassion, Self-Connection, trauma, writing

  hope, IFS, inner compass, inner flame, inner power, inner strength, innercompass, inspiration, mental health, political anxiety, politics, power, Religious trauma, ritual, self-compassion, self-connection, trauma

• Ditching 12-Step Dogma: Science-Based Recovery That Actually Works

  

  Uncover the truth about 12-step programs and why they rely on pseudoscience rather than evidence-based recovery. Learn how outdated dogma can hold people back and discover science-backed alternatives that actually work for overcoming addiction.

  Forest Benedict, LMFT

  March 10, 2025

  Addiction, Change, Faith, IFS, pornography, Recovery, Religious trauma, Self-Connection, Sexual Addiction

  12-step, addiction, dogma, evidence-based, faith, healing, IFS, pseudoscience, recovery, Religious trauma, science

• Why Politics Feels Like Church Again: Religious Trauma Triggers and How to Cope

  

  If politics is triggering your religious trauma, you’re not alone. The fear, control, and oppression you left behind in fundamentalism are showing up in today’s political landscape. Learn why this happens, how it impacts your mental health, and what you can do to reclaim your power and heal.

  Forest Benedict, LMFT

  February 15, 2025

  Anxiety, Faith, IFS, Politics, Religious trauma, self-compassion, Self-Connection, trauma

  IFS, mental health, political anxiety, Religious trauma, self-compassion, self-connection

• When Christianity Hurts: Understanding Religious Trauma and Its Psychological Impact

  

  Explore how certain aspects of Christianity can contribute to religious trauma and disconnection from the self. This blog post takes a skeptical, science-based approach to understanding the psychological and emotional impacts of rigid religious teachings, while offering support for those seeking healing and personal growth.

  Forest Benedict, LMFT

  October 24, 2024

  Faith, IFS, Religious trauma, Self-Connection, Sexual shame, Shame, trauma

  Christianity, critical thinking, disconnection from self, fear-based teachings, healing, intellectual growth, Internal Family Systems, mental health, moral absolutism, psychological impact, purity culture, religious suppression, Religious trauma, science-based perspective, Sexual shame, toxic religion