The Religious Power & Control Wheel: Understanding How Faith Systems Enforce Gender and Sexuality Norms
Religious trauma therapy helps people heal from the lasting effects of spiritual abuse—including the harmful ways religious institutions define and control gender and sexuality. At Embodied Therapy Group, we work with individuals across Colorado and beyond who are reclaiming their identity after years of shame-based teachings.
For many, faith and identity can coexist. But when religious systems use doctrine to shame, restrict, or erase your core identity, the result is often deep disconnection from yourself.
What Is the Religious Power & Control Wheel?
The Religious Power & Control Wheel is an adaptation of the original model used in domestic violence education. Instead of physical force, it highlights how faith-based systems exert control through emotional, psychological, and spiritual manipulation.
This wheel maps out the subtle yet powerful tactics used to shame people into submission—especially around gender, sexuality, and identity. These aren't isolated messages. They're often built into the core teachings of a faith community.
How Religion Uses Gender and Sexuality to Exert Control
In many harmful religious settings, control doesn't always look like open condemnation. It shows up in culturally accepted rules and expectations. Here are common spiritual abuse tactics tied to gender and sexuality:
Rigid gender roles (e.g., "men lead, women submit")
Declaring LGBTQ+ identities as sinful, broken, or disordered
Shaming any sexual expression outside heterosexual marriage
Policing clothing, modesty, or physical appearance
Blaming survivors of sexual assault for what happened to them
Teaching that desire itself is sinful or must be suppressed
These teachings are often presented as “God’s truth” or “loving guidance”—but they generate fear, shame, and internal conflict. Over time, they erode a person’s sense of safety in their own body and identity.
The Psychological Impact of Gender and Sexuality-Based Spiritual Abuse
The harm caused by religious trauma isn’t just emotional—it becomes embodied. Clients in our LGBTQ+ affirming therapy sessions often share that they experience:
Chronic shame about their body or sexual desires
Disconnection from pleasure, intimacy, or consent
Fear of being rejected by family, partners, or community
Identity confusion or internalized hatred
Persistent anxiety, self-doubt, or feeling “bad” inside
These symptoms mirror those of trauma—not spiritual awakening. At Embodied Therapy Group, we name this for what it is: abuse masked as spiritual formation.
Healing Religious Trauma Through Therapy
You are not broken—and you are not alone. Healing is possible through compassionate, affirming, trauma-informed therapy.
At Embodied Therapy Group, we offer religious trauma therapy in Fort Collins and throughout Colorado. Our work is rooted in somatic awareness, curiosity, and the deep belief that you are inherently worthy—just as you are.
1. Validating Your Experience
Many survivors of spiritual abuse struggle to name their experience. You're not overreacting or being dramatic. In our work together, we’ll honor your story without minimizing or moralizing it. The first step is naming the harm.
2. Reconnecting With Your Body Through Somatic Therapy
Religious trauma often results in disembodiment—disconnecting from sensation, desire, and intuition. Through somatic therapy, we help you build a relationship with your body rooted in trust, safety, and agency.
3. Exploring Gender and Sexuality Without Shame
Whether you’re questioning your gender, embracing your queerness, or healing from shame around intimacy, you deserve a space free from fear. Many of our clients also engage in relationship counseling in Fort Collins to process how purity culture or patriarchal values impacted their capacity for connection.
LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy for Religious Trauma in Colorado
We offer LGBTQ+ affirming therapy for individuals healing from gender-based religious abuse, spiritual shame, and identity suppression. Whether you're local to Fort Collins or seeking virtual support across Colorado, we’re here to help.
You are not “too much.” You are not broken. And you are not beyond healing.
Begin Your Healing Journey Today
If you're ready to heal religious trauma, reclaim your identity, and reconnect with your body, we invite you to begin this journey with us.
👉 Schedule a consultation with a trauma-informed, LGBTQ+ affirming therapist at Embodied Therapy Group today. You deserve to feel safe, seen, and whole.
🔎 FAQ
What is religious trauma therapy?
It’s a specialized form of therapy that helps people heal from spiritual abuse, shame-based teachings, and coercive religious environments.
Can I still be spiritual and go to religious trauma therapy?
Yes. We support all faith journeys—including those who want to stay in faith, leave it, or redefine it on their own terms.
Is somatic therapy effective for healing religious trauma?
Absolutely. Trauma—including spiritual trauma—lives in the body. Somatic therapy helps reconnect you with your body in safe, empowering ways.
