Podcast
The Cult Next Door Podcast
First-hand accounts of a doomsday cult that consumed the lives of its members.
Co-hosted by Ashleigh Teeter and Mattie Lasiter
Religious trauma counseling in Bentonville, AR
Healing from religious trauma, at your own pace
A safe, affirming space to untangle harmful religious experiences and life after a high-control environment. There’s no agenda here about what you should believe.
Understanding it
What is religious trauma?
Religious trauma describes the lasting effects of harmful experiences in a religious setting: teachings, practices, or communities that left you feeling afraid, ashamed, controlled, or cut off from yourself. It isn’t a formal diagnosis, but the effects are real, and you don’t have to have left your faith to feel them.
It often grows out of high-control environments: groups that discourage questions, police behavior and relationships, use fear of punishment or rejection, or make love and belonging conditional. That can include some churches, fundamentalist communities, and cults.
Healing doesn’t mean landing on any particular belief. Some people leave religion, some reshape their faith, and some are still figuring it out. All of those paths are welcome here.
You might be here because…
- You still feel anxious, ashamed, or afraid of punishment, even years later
- You’re questioning what you were taught, or deconstructing your faith
- Leaving a church, family, or community has left you grieving or alone
- Purity culture shaped how you see your body, sex, or relationships
- It’s hard to trust your own thoughts, feelings, and choices
- You’re not sure who you are outside the group
How we’ll work together
Your story, your pace
Every story is different, so our work is shaped around you. Here’s how my approach fits this work.
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Your voice leads
After an environment where others decided what you should think and feel, therapy is a place where your voice leads. I’ll never tell you what to believe.
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Make sense of the patterns
We’ll gently explore how what you went through shapes the fear, guilt, or self-doubt that shows up today, so it starts to make sense.
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See the whole system
Faith, family, and community are often deeply intertwined. We’ll look at the roles and rules you grew up with, and how to set boundaries while staying connected where you choose.
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Come back to your body
Mindfulness and body awareness can help you notice what you feel and feel safer in your own skin, at a pace that feels okay.
Common questions
Questions people often ask
Do I have to leave my faith, or believe anything in particular, to work with you?
No. There’s no agenda here about what you should believe. Some people leave religion, some reshape their faith, and some are still figuring it out. All of those paths are welcome, and my role is to help you find what feels true for you.
Is religious trauma a real diagnosis?
Religious trauma isn’t a formal diagnosis, but its effects are very real. They can include anxiety, shame, fear of punishment, depression, and trouble trusting yourself. We focus on what you’re experiencing, not on labels.
Can you help if I left a cult or another high-control group?
Yes. Recovery from high-control environments, including cults, is part of my practice. We’ll go at your pace, and you decide what we talk about and when.
I’m LGBTQ+ and my church or family rejected me. Is this a safe place?
Yes. I offer LGBTQ+ affirming care, and you never have to explain or defend who you are here. Many people healing from religious harm are also healing from being rejected for who they are.
Do you offer online sessions?
Yes. I offer secure video sessions for anyone located in Arkansas, and in-person sessions at the Cozy Cottage in downtown Bentonville. If you live outside Arkansas, ask about coaching by video.
How do I get started?
Start with a free 15-minute consultation by video or phone. It’s a relaxed, no-pressure chance to ask questions and see if we’re a good fit. You can book it here.
Keep listening, keep learning
More from Ashleigh
Launching soon
Religious Trauma Center
An online hub, now in development, for people recovering from controlling religious environments and cult-like experiences, with educational articles, recovery tools, and expert perspectives.
Ready when you are
Start with a free 15-minute call, by video or phone. No pressure, just a chance to ask questions and see if we’re a good fit.