Meet The Team

Our Team

Jane Kennedy

“I’m a Sydney based Counsellor working on Gadigal land.

I have lived experience of religious trauma and work with people as they go through faith transitions, leave church and/or God. This experience, still frequently misunderstood, can be life-altering. I work with language and framing for the complexities of religious trauma in the counselling space and work with other Australian therapists to broaden knowledge among those working with affected clients.

I’ve written my story, an e-book, The Sentimental Non-Believer, on Loving & Leaving God. My mini-course, What I Wish My Therapist Knew About Religious Trauma, is a resource for therapists. A new course, Freedom from Religious Trauma, for those with lived experience is in development.

With much of my career spent in the International Humanitarian sector, I also have a special interest in trauma-informed programming and the mental health of practitioners.

I have two completely delightful adult kids and live with a couple of demanding rescue cats and a cyclist who all wake me before 5 most mornings.”

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Sam Sellers

“I’m a therapist working on Gundungurra Land in Southern NSW.

At the heart of my work is creating a space where people feel genuinely seen, believed, and valued; not for who they were told to be, but for who they actually are. You are not broken. You never were.

A lot of my work sits with people recovering from religious trauma, cult involvement, spiritual abuse, purity culture and high-control systems. I come to this work with both professional training and lived experience, which means I understand how disorienting it can be when the beliefs, relationships, and identities that once shaped your life start to fall apart. The grief, the anger, the confusion and also the quiet relief and reclaiming.

Creating affirming, trauma-informed space for LGBTQIA+ folks is deeply important to me. I know the particular kind of harm that can come from being told your body, your desire, or your identity is wrong especially when that message comes wrapped in theology, family, and community. There is a lot of unlearning that can be required after that kind of harm, and none of it needs to be rushed or forced.

I’m a companion, a guide, and an advocate; walking alongside you as you make sense of what you’ve survived and begin to reclaim choice, agency, and meaning on your own terms.

I’m also a lover of stories, which is why I created and host the podcast Beyond the Surface. Through conversations with people from around the world, we explore lived experiences of religious trauma, cult harm, and recovery. My hope is that by hearing these stories, something in you exhales and you’re reminded that you’re not alone, and you’re not imagining how much this impacted you.

You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & anywhere you get your podcasts.

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Elise Heerde

“I'm deeply passionate about supporting people who have experienced religious trauma and cultic systems, drawing from both personal and professional insights. My own journey through the tangled web of religious trauma means that I have a strong understanding of the challenges, fears, pain, and complexities involved.

As a Certified Coach, my work is grounded in lived experience, professional training, and a passion for creating safe and empathetic spaces for people to navigate the complexities of their experiences and work towards recovery, growth, and empowerment. I believe that everyone deserves to reclaim their sense of self and find peace after experiencing religious trauma.

I'm also committed to education and advocacy surrounding high-control systems and coercive control. I believe that by raising awareness and fostering understanding, we can empower people to recognise the difference between safe and healthy systems and those that are positioned to do great harm.

All of my work is built on the foundation that we are already good, whole, and worthy.”

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