For many of us raised in high-control religious environments, personal choice was discouraged—or outright denied. We were taught to surrender our desires, silence our doubts, and obey spiritual leaders without question. Autonomy was often labeled rebellion, and trusting ourselves was seen as dangerous.
This support group session is a space for Black religious trauma survivors to explore what it means to **reclaim the power of choice** after years of spiritual coercion, manipulation, and control. Together, we’ll unpack the harm caused when our decisions were shamed, our voices were suppressed, and our agency was taken in the name of “God’s will.”
In this gathering, we’ll reflect on:

* How religious trauma disrupted our ability to trust ourselves

* What it looks like to rebuild autonomy in our bodies, relationships, and beliefs

* Small, powerful ways we’re learning to say yes, say no, and mean it

This is a judgment-free, affirming space for you to share, listen, and begin reconnecting with your inner compass.

Black Religious Trauma Recovery Network

BlackRTRN

Reclaiming our personal choice & autonomy after Religious Trauma

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For many of us raised in the Black church, our creativity was birthed, shaped, and sometimes confined within its walls. Whether through music, dance, poetry, fashion, or performance—**our gifts were often celebrated, but only when they served the institution.** Outside the church? Those same gifts were too often labeled as “worldly,” “vain,” or “distracting from God.”
In this support group session, we’ll hold space for Black religious trauma survivors to reflect on:

* How the church shaped our creative expression—for better or worse

* The grief of losing access to our gifts after leaving the church

* The shame or guilt we still carry around expressing ourselves freely

* And most importantly—how we are reclaiming our creativity, our voice, and our joy outside of performance-based faith

This is a safe, affirming space to share your story, your art, and your healing. You don’t have to be a professional artist to belong here—just someone who’s ready to reconnect with the parts of you that were once silenced or shamed.

Litamarie 

LaDonna Jackson

Exploring Black Creativity Outside The Church Wall after Religious Trauma

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Black Religious Trauma Recovery Network

Black Religious Trauma Recovery Network

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