Editing Religious trauma syndrome (section)

== Treatment and tasks of recovery ==
Mental health professionals, life coaches, and individuals practicing pastoral care have been developing approaches to treating RTS. While exposure therapy is not recommended, trauma-focused [[cognitive behavioral therapy]], group therapy combined with one-on-one sessions,<ref name="Stone" /> trauma-informed [[psychoeducation]], [[trauma processing]], and grief work can all be beneficial.<ref name=":7" /> In Winell's approach, treatment is most effective when holistic and multi-modal. That is, treatment needs to address the cognitive, affective, physiological, and relational dimensions of the person, all in a societal context.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-22|title=Professional Development Services|url=https://journeyfree.org/professional-development/|access-date=2020-10-28|website=Journey Free|language=en-US}}</ref>

Treatment of RTS has been influenced by modern thinking about treating trauma of all kinds.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Van der Kolk, Bessel A.|title=The body keeps the score : brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma|year=2015|isbn=978-0-14-312774-1|publisher=Penguin Books |location=New York, New York|oclc=900623268}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite book|author=Gentry, J. Eric|title=Forward facing trauma therapy : healing the moral wound|others=Block, Ilsa Keith.|date=20 September 2016|isbn=978-0-9975292-0-3|publisher=Compassion Unlimited|location=Sarasota, Florida|oclc=962922635}}</ref> From this trauma-informed perspective, it is important to recognize individual differences and locate the actual trauma in the nervous system of the individual. According to Walker,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Complex PTSD Pete Walker Article|url=https://www.psychotherapy.net/article/complex-ptsd-walker-book|access-date=2020-10-28|website=www.psychotherapy.net}}</ref> importance elements of trauma recovery involve shrinking the [[inner critic]], the role of grieving, and the need to be able to stay self-compassionately present to [[dysphoria|dysphoric affect]].

In medicine, [[trauma-informed care]] is defined as practices that promote a culture of [[safety]], [[empowerment]], and [[healing]].<ref>{{Cite web|author=Monique Tello|date=2018-10-16|title=Trauma-informed care: What it is, and why it's important|url=https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/trauma-informed-care-what-it-is-and-why-its-important-2018101613562|access-date=2020-10-28|website=Harvard Health Blog|language=en-US}}</ref>

Group support appears to be an effective treatment for recovery from religious trauma and numerous services have developed to offer this, including professional recovery groups,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-03-03|title=Release and Reclaim Online Support Group|url=https://journeyfree.org/group-forum/|access-date=2020-10-28|website=Journey Free|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>
{{Cite web
|title=Support Groups
|url=https://www.reclamationcollective.com/support-groups
|access-date=2020-10-28
|website=Reclamation Collective
|language=en-US}}</ref> peer support groups,<ref>{{Cite web
|title=Support Groups
|url=https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/support-groups
|access-date=2020-10-28|website=Recovering from Religion
|language=en-US}}</ref> and online forums.<ref>{{Cite web
|title=ExChristian.Net
|url=https://new.exchristian.net/|access-date=2020-10-28|website=ExChristian.Net}}</ref><ref>For example
{{Cite web|title=Facebook Group 'Mental Health for Exvangelicals'
|url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/233115774025873/
|access-date=2020-10-28|website=www.facebook.com
|language=en}}
</ref> These may be effective because 1) those in recovery have lost primary support systems of family and church, 2) social support is a primary human need and relevant in understanding the physiology of trauma,<ref name=":11" /> and the social context of treatment helps people feel less alone or at fault.

While some liberal churches offer therapy, professional therapists take the view that treatment should be in a neutral environment, and not in a religious context.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Religious Trauma Syndrome: Wenn Religion krank macht|url=https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/religious-trauma-syndrome-wenn-religion-krank-macht.886.de.html?dram:article_id=455372|last=Ridderbusch|first=Katja|date=6 August 2019|access-date=22 July 2021|work=[[Deutschlandfunk]]|language=German}}</ref>

=== Tasks of recovery ===
Healing from religious trauma involves assessing each symptom area for growth and exploration:

*Cognitive tasks:
** developing [[critical thinking]] skills 
** providing psychoeducation about RTS 
** offering [[decision-making]] frameworks 
** fostering good mental hygiene (e.g. avoiding [[black and white thinking]] or judgmentalism)
** re-establishing a sense of [[personal identity]]<ref name="Winell BABCP 3" />
*Affective tasks:
** exploring coping skills for [[emotional dysregulation]]
** habitual steps for dealing with emotional [[Flashback (psychology)|flashbacks]].<ref name=":7" />
*Functional tasks:
** establishing healthy sleeping and eating patterns
** providing [[sex education]] in an effort to promote healthy sexuality 
** reconnecting with the body through [[Somatics|somatic]] techniques.<ref name=":11" />
*Social/cultural tasks:
** discovering and/or establishing a community or social network outside of the controlling faith community.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=A |title=Healing Together: The Role of Community Support in Overcoming Religious Trauma |publisher=Harmony Press |year=2021}}</ref>
** cultivating financial stability 
** learning how to acculturate into society
** developing interpersonal skills such as [[perspective-taking]].<ref name=":10" />

Many developmental tasks overlap with cognitive, affective, functional, and social/cultural tasks. Developmental tasks of recovery focus on recognizing developmental delay and providing necessary education in critical thinking, sexual health, mental hygiene, and socialization to allow natural human development to continue.<ref name="Winell BABCP 3" />