fbpx

Me, Myself & I – My Story

|

Sam

Beyond the Surface Podcast Tile - Sam Sellers

Who Am I?

As a Queer religious trauma therapist, I work from a trauma informed and lived experience stance. I understand the profound impact that religious experiences can have. I am here to provide an accepting and non-judgmental space to explore your inner world.

My new workbook “Embracing Queerness and Faith” will be released early 2024. I am hopeful will bring an internal sense of authenticity and freedom to many. I am also working on Religious Trauma training for other Therapists.

Currently living and working in Goulburn on Gundungarra Land in my private practice but offering therapy worldwide (except US & Canada).

I am equal parts professional and compassionate with a dash of sarcasm and humour. It makes the therapeutic journey even more relatable and enriching. I also have an incredibly cute and furry co-therapist Naya; she is a sweet and intuitive Cavoodle.

My Thoughts..

This episode is a little different because I step out of the host role and share my story. I share with openness and relatability, and I hope that you feel this as you listen.

Episode Summary

  • I share that I didn’t grow up in a religious home. An aspect that many people are surprised about and my initial introduction to religion.
  • Going to a Catholic school, was the first time that I realised my inclination towards faith and spirituality. I share about a recurring theme in my life of feeling different or separate to everyone else and a desperate need to belong.
  • Deeply sad and depressed at the time, I share about the role my high school scripture teacher played in showing the love Jesus.
  • We discuss the delay in using terms like religious trauma and deconstruction. As well as not seeing the harm or problematic aspects of organised religion.
  • I reflect on the church version of myself which was the very black and white Christian.
  • I share about the traditional gender roles that were part of the church and the way they became learned messages that I carried into my relationship.
  • I explain what a ‘gospel gap year’ was and the racial issues that I found in connection to a mission trip to Fiji.
  • We discuss how doctrine of predestination completely ruptured my faith in God and after I didn’t get the answers from my leaders about this, I left the church abruptly.
  • I talk about what my ‘2 years of rebellion’ looked like, cemented in the feelings of anger, resentment, and bitterness.
  • I share how I ended up back at my home church, all-in yet again and the traumatising moment on the first day back at church.
  • We discuss the impact that meeting Chrissy (my now wife) had on my world, my faith and my church community including the infamous meeting with my elders.
  • I share about deep pain and grief that surrounded my engagement and the ongoing shadow that this placed on the wedding.
  • We discuss the role therapy played in beginning my ongoing process of deconstruction and healing. Embracing the freedom of curiosity and my own intuition.
  • Finally, I answer the question “what would you say to someone fresh in their deconstruction?”