Holding, Helping & Healing Spiritual Trauma - In person or Online

Please note: This event will be held on January 17 and 24, 2026. In person and online options are available. Both dates are included in the ticket price.

Some of us have known faith spaces that shamed, silenced, or harmed us — places where love was conditional and belonging uncertain.

If that has been part of your story, you’re not alone. Healing is possible, and it begins in safety, honesty, and compassionate community.

Holding, Helping & Healing Spiritual Trauma is a two-part seminar designed to help participants gently explore the impact of spiritual or religious harm on body, mind, and spirit — and to discover pathways toward wholeness, trust, and belonging.

Together we’ll learn, share, and practice ways of healing that honor both our pain and our resilience.

By the end of these sessions, participants will:

• Understand what religious or spiritual trauma is and how it affects our emotions, relationships, and sense of self.
• Recognize the body’s role in trauma responses — and learn simple, grounding ways to support safety and regulation.
• Explore how power, leadership, and shame dynamics can shape our experiences of faith and belonging.
• Reflect on personal stories in ways that affirm dignity, agency, and compassion.
• Reclaim practices of self-trust, creativity, and spiritual connection.
• Identify healthy community and relational patterns that foster ongoing healing.

What to Expect

• A calm, inclusive, and supportive environment.
• Gentle facilitation, guided reflection, and creative options for expression.
• No pressure to share or participate beyond your comfort level.
• Grounding practices and optional quiet breaks to help regulate emotions.
• Respect for all identities, orientations, and spiritual backgrounds.

Who Is This For?

• Those who have experienced religious or spiritual trauma.
• People deconstructing or healing from harmful religious environments.
• Leaders, caregivers, or faith companions wanting to understand and support others.

Values & Inclusion

This gathering is grounded in compassion, dignity, and welcome.
We are committed to creating a space where every person feels safe, seen, and honoured.

Trauma-Informed

We recognize that spiritual harm can be tender and complex.
Participants are invited to engage at their own pace. Sharing is always optional.
Consent, privacy, and personal boundaries are respected throughout the workshop.

Fully Inclusive & LGBTQ2S+ Affirming

People of every gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, culture, neurotype, and ability are warmly welcomed.
You do not need to belong to any faith tradition (or any at all) to participate.

Non-Coercive & Non-Judgmental

This is a space free from pressure to believe, perform, or conform.
Your autonomy, your story, and your lived experience are honoured.

Accessible & Welcoming

We aim to make this gathering accessible to all.
If you have accessibility needs—physical, sensory, emotional, or technological—please reach out so we can support your participation.

Rooted in Compassion

Our hope is to create a gentle space for healing, curiosity, and connection.
You are invited just as you are — with your questions, your grief, your hopes, and your courage.

Important Notes on Care & Safety

Not a Substitute for Therapy

While the workshop integrates trauma-informed practices, this workshop is not a replacement for one-on-one professional therapy.
Participants seeking deeper or ongoing therapeutic support are encouraged to work with a qualified mental-health professional.

Duty to Care & Reporting Obligations

To keep everyone safe, the facilitators from Sana Corda and McKillop United Church have a legal and ethical obligation to report situations where someone may be at risk of harming themselves or others.
This is standard practice in all helping professions and ensures the well-being of the whole community.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher McKillop