Leaving Mormonism
Leaving Mormonism can feel like stepping into a completely new world filled with uncertainty, grief, relief, and sometimes overwhelming fear. Whether you call yourself ExMormon, post-Mormon, or simply “in transition,” the process of leaving is often much more than a simple change in belief, and more of a full-on life transformation that touches every part of who you are.
Why is leaving Mormonism so challenging?
For many, the LDS Church is more than a religion or a place of worship. Mormonism a cultural, social, and familial anchor. From childhood, members are taught specific ways to think, act, and relate to others and to themselves. Stepping away from this can lead to:
Loss of community and social support: Friends and family relationships may shift or disappear.
Identity confusion: Without the labels and roles given by the Church, many feel unsure of who they are.
Generational expectations: A lot of Mormon families have been members of the Church for multiple generations, often having stories about ancestors (pioneers) who “sacrificed” for their posterity. With that comes expectations, assumptions, and familial guilt that can arise when leaving.
Intense guilt or shame: Indoctrination can leave deep-rooted feelings of being “bad” or “unworthy” for questioning or leaving.
Fear of eternal consequences: Teachings about the afterlife can create lingering anxiety and fear.
Incongruent feelings: Feeling simultaneous relief and grief, freedom and loss, excitement and fear. These seemingly conflicting emotions can feel confusing and overwhelming.
Difficulty trusting oneself: Many ExMormons have been taught to distrust their own intuition or “inner knowing,” creating challenges in decision-making.
How therapy can help ExMormons
Therapy offers a safe, supportive space to process these complex emotions and experiences. Working with a therapist who understands religious trauma and high-demand groups is especially important. How therapy could support you:
Reclaim your identity: Explore who you are outside of Church teachings and discover values, passions, and beliefs that feel true to you.
Address trauma: Address the emotional wounds caused by authoritarian control, purity culture, and spiritual abuse.
Build self-trust: Strengthen your ability to listen to your own needs, desires, and intuition.
Navigate relationships: Learn to set healthy boundaries with believing family members and navigate social changes.
Reduce guilt and shame: Unpack and challenge harmful core beliefs that no longer serve you.
The benefits of working with an ExMormon therapist
As an ExMormon myself, I know that when you are trying to heal from religious trauma or you have left a religion like Mormonism, it can feel exhausting to constantly explain your experiences to someone who doesn't understand the culture or language of Mormonism. Working with a therapist who is also an ExMormon offers unique advantages:
Shared cultural understanding: You don’t have to translate what it means to serve a mission, hold a temple recommend, or experience a bishop’s worthiness interview. Your therapist already understands the nuances and unspoken rules that shaped your life.
Reduced fear of judgment: Many clients worry that their therapist might judge them for questioning or leaving the Church. Working with someone who has been through it themselves helps create a deep sense of safety and trust.
Specialized tools and approaches: A therapist who has personally navigated a faith transition knows which strategies are most effective in rebuilding self-trust, addressing guilt and shame, and reconnecting to your body and intuition.
Choosing a therapist who shares your background can help you feel seen, heard, and validated in a way that might feel rare elsewhere. Therapy is an investment in you, and you deserve support from someone who truly "gets it,” and someone you feel comfortable working with.
Common topics in therapy for ExMormons
Grieving the loss of a faith community
Navigating relationships after a faith change
Purity culture and body image struggles
Perfectionism and worth tied to performance
Scrupulosity (religious OCD)
Fear of disappointing family or losing loved ones
Anxiety around sexuality and relationships
Leaving the LDS Church can be isolating, but there is a growing community of ExMormons and religious trauma survivors who are walking this path with you. Therapy can be a powerful ally in reclaiming your sense of self and creating a life that feels authentic and free.
If you are looking for a safe, compassionate space to unpack your experiences and reconnect with yourself, I would be happy to support you.
