Description
This group is designed for those processing experiences of religious harm, spiritual abuse, or distress connected to high-control or shame-based faith environments. Many members identify as LGBTQIA+ and are navigating the impact of messages about identity, belonging, and worth that were shaped by religion. In this space, you are not required to defend your experiences or justify your identity. The focus is on understanding how religious experiences have shaped your thoughts, emotions, relationships, and sense of self. While supporting one another in the process of healing.
Each group provides space to explore themes such as:
Processing shame, fear, or guilt related to religious upbringing or beliefs
Understanding how religious messages impact identity, self-worth, and relationships
Rebuilding trust in your own thoughts, emotions, and decision-making
Navigating grief related to loss of community, faith, or belonging
Exploring identity, values, and meaning outside of harmful narratives
Learning to set boundaries and care for yourself in relationships and family systems
Members are encouraged to share at their own comfort level. You are never pressured to disclose more than you want to, and silence or observation is always welcome. This group is trauma-informed, meaning the group is structured to prioritize safety, respect, and choice at all times. I help guide conversations, ensure emotional safety, and support members in staying grounded as they explore difficult material.
While the group is supportive, it is not unstructured peer discussion. It is a therapeutic space with intention, direction, and clinical grounding. This group may be a good fit if you are:
Recovering from religious trauma or spiritual abuse
Questioning or deconstructing your faith
Navigating LGBTQIA+ identity in relation to religion
Experiencing shame, anxiety, or confusion connected to upbringing or belief systems
Looking for connection with others who understand these experiences
There is no requirement to be at a specific stage in your healing. Whether you are just beginning to explore these experiences or have been processing them for some time, you are welcome.
Group Therapist
Stevie Jones is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA). His work is trauma-informed, relational, and paced to prioritize emotional safety and stabilization. This supports clients in stepping back from inherited beliefs and rigid internal rules that once served a protective function but have since become limiting. Stevie is committed to serving a wide range of client needs, with a specialization in LGBTQIA+ clients healing from religious trauma, adults navigating childhood trauma, and couples seeking support in building more secure and fulfilling relationships.
Stevie's therapeutic approach is grounded in narrative therapy, supported by an integrative use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) techniques. This combination allows for a holistic approach that addresses both emotional processing and practical skill-building. He collaborates with clients to explore the stories they have internalized about identity, worth, and safety, while also strengthening emotional regulation, self-trust, and relational security.
Stevie frequently works with clients experiencing shame, guilt, and internalized beliefs that interfere with self-acceptance. He also supports individuals navigating anxiety, chronic stress, overwhelm, depression, and emotional numbness. Additional areas of focus include identity exploration, grief and loss, burnout and emotional exhaustion, and challenges related to attachment patterns in relationship dynamics.
Stevie's professional background includes experience in a range of mental health settings, including the Cooper Riis residential treatmet center, Oasis rehabilitation center, and Mars Hill University's college counseling. This diverse experience aids his understanding of clients navigating acute distress, recovery processes, and transitional life stages.
Stevie works at Three Little Byrds Therapy, located in West Asheville on 1056 Haywood Rd Ste D, Asheville, NC 28806. Stevie is currently accepting clients for both in-person and virtual meetings across North Carolina.
