The Schedule
Click this link to access the CORT schedule:
TBA
Please note that the schedule for the 2023 Conference on Religious Trauma is subject to change.
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Erica Smith
Embracing Queer Identities After High Control Religion
In this talk, sex educator and creator of the Purity Culture Dropout Program, Erica Smith, will guide attendees through everything they need to know if they're coming to terms with or questioning their sexual or gender identity after growing up in high control religion. We'll touch on the phenomenons of queer imposter syndrome and internalized homophobia, talk about coming out, identity labels, dating, sex, and more. This is a pep talk and a love letter to all "late bloomer" LGBTQ+ people.
Christy Powell
Mindful Self-Compassion for Atheist and #Exvangelicals
This presentation will explore the use of mindfulness and compassion based therapies and exercises for the atheist and religious trauma communities. We'll explore the supporting research and philosophy of caring for ourselves through mindfulness, common humanity and loving kindness and contrast these with a Christianity centered worldview, particularly around issues of sexuality and religious shame. This hour long presentation will include contemplative practice and evidence based strategies for healing from and letting go of scrupulosity and moral judgement.
Carol Merchasin
Civil Law and Religious Accountability: Tools for Sexual Abuse Survivors in Cultic Spiritual Communities
US law does not give survivors of abuse in cultic spiritual communities many tools. In this session, we will examine the difference between the criminal and the civil justice systems and look at the tools that the civil justice system gives us to bring justice to survivors and accountability to the individuals and organizations who harmed them.
Mary Byler
An Amish Baptism
Sometimes we are taught that if we don't comply with certain cultural and familial expectations, part of who we are is taken from us.
Rewriting the Amish baptism ritual that was performed on me as a 17-year-old became a burning need for me in my late 30s. I did this consciously and intentionally while I dismantled every part of the ritual to reclaim my bodily autonomy. It has been one of my most treasured acts of life after religious trauma.
The journey to be where and who I have become has taken many twists and turns as I have reclaimed my Amish identity and heritage in ways that don't compromise me.
Janja Lalich
Belief Formation, Identity, and Radicalization
1 CE Credit
Hector Garcia
PTSD as Adaptation: Religious Trauma in Perspective
1 CE Credit
Josie McSkimming
Reconstruction After Deconstruction
1 CE Credit
Ling Lam
Shame and Complex Trauma
1 CE Credit
Mahrs Schoppman
Religious Trauma and Queer Embodiment
1 CE Credit
Claire Hams
Jehovah's Witnesses, My Personal and Professional Perspectives
1 CE Credit
Gillie Jenkinson, PhD, Jennifer French, Claire Alison Hams
A Specialized Approach to Religious Recovery
1.5 CE Credits
