Meaning-making and healing after spiritual and religious trauma. An experiential process group for people who are undergoing, or have undergone, a spiritual change, deconstruction, or loss. Based on the book Holy Hurt by Dr. Hillary McBride.

Six sessions bi-weekly Wednesdays via Zoom:
April 8, 22; May 6, 20; June 3, 17
1:00 - 2:30pm EST

Holy Hurt

FAQs

What are the dates and times of this group?

This group runs on Wednesdays every other week from 1:00 - 2:30pm, for 6 sessions beginning on April 8th and ending on June 17th.

This is a virtual group that will be hosted on Zoom.

What is the cost and commitment of this group?

This is a closed group that runs for 6 sessions (over 12 weeks), which means that we ask for a commitment to the full 6 sessions in order to build safety and community.

Each 90-minute group is $80, which amounts to $480 for the entire group cycle. Payment can be made before each group session. There are no refunds for missed groups.

We strongly recommend participants purchase or borrow a copy of Holy Hurt for use during the group.

Will I get an insurance receipt?

We can provide insurance receipts for registered psychotherapy, psychotherapy, and/or occupational therapy. Please email to inquire.

Will a particular belief system be promoted in this group?

No. This group is not faith-based and aims to honour and promote the health of each person’s spiritual and mental well-being. We aim to support and create space for wherever you are in your spiritual journey.

Who is this group for?

This group is for residents of Ontario who identify with having experienced hurt or harm in spiritual community. We will be reading through Holy Hurt by Dr. Hillary McBride as the foundational material for discussion and processing in this group.

We recognize that for many people who have experienced spiritual harm, a shifting faith identity may be a concurrent experience. This shift does not need to be recent, nor does it need to be “complete.” If you are deconstructing or de-identifying with a faith identity, and experiencing spiritual longing and/or distress as a result of spiritual harm, this group is for you.

What does it mean for a group to be an “experiential process” group?

Experiential means that this group will include activities — readings, exercises we might do together — within the group that embody or allow us to practice concepts through doing.

A process group means that we will be discussing what is happening live in the room, altogether. This process of being and doing together is a core element of the learning and healing in this group. It also means we value individual and group process over a specific individual and group outcome.

You can expect to build community and connection with others, and it is our hope that this will be especially true for those who have felt disconnected from previous spiritual communities.

How many people will be in the group?

We are capping registration at 10 participants max.

Group Facilitators

  • Trevor Birrell

    Registered Psychotherapist

    Trevor brings years of experience in education counselling to his therapeutic work with children, teenagers, and adults. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts in broadcast journalism, a Bachelor of Education with a focus on the dramatic arts, and a Master of Arts in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy. He brings a wealth of experience with psychodrama, and is a strong believer in the arts as a therapeutic tool for healing.

    Trevor comes from a Protestant faith background, but through experiences of homophobia, left the Alliance Church for the Metropolitan Community Church denomination. He has integrated Buddhist and Indigenous philosophies and practices since.

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  • Season Kam

    Occupational therapist, Psychotherapist

    Season brings experience and enthusiasm for creative, relational, and experiential work, and has run various art-based, experiential groups with adults. She is eager to build community around people whose faith lives are changing, and explore the possibilities for healing and wholeness during this transition.

    Season grew up in the evangelical Christian faith tradition. Her faith identity began to shift after she became a parent and when she witnessed harm being perpetuated in the church. She considers herself spiritually seeking, and is interested in places where safety, belonging, and curiosity can intersect with the spiritual.

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Group registration

Please reach out using this form if you would like to register, or have any questions.