Best Books for Women Healing from Religious Trauma
Therapist-Recommended Reads for Deconstruction, Recovery, and Reclaiming Your Voice
Healing from religious trauma is deeply personal, often lonely, and rarely linear. If you're a woman untangling yourself from high-control religious systems, purity culture, or years of fear-based spiritual messages, books can be a powerful part of your healing. They offer language, validation, and connection, especially when you’re just starting to find your voice again.
As a therapist who works with women navigating religious trauma and faith deconstruction, I’ve gathered a list of books that I often recommend to clients. These titles are written by people who get it – people who understand what it means to question your faith, grieve your former identity, and slowly reclaim your sense of self.
Here’s a list of books that meet you where you are, whether you're angry, grieving, curious, or simply trying to feel a little less alone.
For Understanding Religious Trauma and Deconstruction
“Leaving the Fold” by Marlene Winell
This is one of the most comprehensive books out there for people leaving high-control religions. Dr. Winell, who coined the term Religious Trauma Syndrome, covers everything from emotional recovery to rebuilding relationships after leaving your faith community. Gentle, validating, and clinically informed, this is a go-to resource.
“When Religion Hurts You” by Laura Anderson
Written by a therapist and trauma specialist, this book explores the real-life mental and emotional toll of spiritual abuse. It’s especially helpful for those unpacking purity culture, body shame, or performance-based faith systems.
“Faith Unraveled” by Rachel Held Evans
Rachel’s voice is compassionate, curious, and deeply human. This book isn’t about deconstruction for the sake of rebellion—it’s about asking honest questions and learning to hold faith with more nuance and tenderness. A beautiful starting point if you’re still figuring out what you believe.
For Healing from Purity Culture and Religious Control Over the Body
“Shameless” by Nadia Bolz-Weber
Written by a pastor who pulls no punches, this book is a breath of fresh air for anyone recovering from purity culture and religious shame around sexuality. It’s blunt, funny, deeply affirming, and unapologetically real.
“Pure” by Linda Kay Klein
This book dives deep into the long-term effects of evangelical purity culture on women’s bodies, relationships, and mental health. Based on years of research and interviews, Pure is powerful, validating, and sometimes infuriating—in the best way.
For Rebuilding Identity, Boundaries, and Self-Trust
“The Wisdom of Your Body” by Hillary McBride
Dr. McBride offers a gentle, body-centered approach to healing from shame, disconnection, and trauma. It’s not specifically about religious trauma, but it’s one of the best resources out there for reconnecting with yourself, especially if your religion taught you to distrust your emotions or body.
“Set Boundaries, Find Peace” by Nedra Glover Tawwab
If you were raised in a system where boundaries were seen as selfish, this book is a game-changer. Practical, clear, and compassionate, it helps you understand how boundaries work and why they’re essential to healing.
Bonus: For Faith Rebuilding or Spiritual Curiosity (Optional Reads)
If you’re not ready to explore spirituality again, skip this section. But if you're curious about reclaiming a faith that feels more loving and less controlling, here are a few gentle options:
“The Liturgists Podcast” (episodes on deconstruction and reconstruction)
“Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I’ve Loved)” by Kate Bowler
Therapy + Books = A Powerful Healing Combo
Books can offer insight and connection, but healing from spiritual abuse often needs more than a stack of paperbacks. Therapy helps you apply what you’re learning in real time, especially when you’re working through trauma, identity confusion, or deeply internalized shame.
If you’re ready to stop white-knuckling your way through recovery and want support from someone who actually understands religious trauma, I’m here.
Looking for support in your healing?
Book a free consult and let’s talk about where you are, where you’ve been, and where you want to go.
