Faith to Faithless

Hope Valley Counselling — Counselling for Coercive, Cultic and Spiritual Abuse We provide specialist therapeutic services to help those who have experienced coercive, cultic, spiritual abuse and religious trauma.

Dr Gillie Jenkinson (Hope Valley Counselling) arguing that therapists need specialist training for dealing with eating disorders; the same is true for dealing with somebody who is leaving a cult.

#AposCon25

www.hopevalleycounselling.com

Ex-cult followers or leavers from high-control religions can have so little interaction with the outside world, they quite literally cannot cope with a supermarket because they've never been and the choice is overwhelming.

#AposConf25

We are horrified by the dreadful attack in Manchester today, which has claimed lives and left others in a serious condition. Our deepest thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the wider community — especially on this day of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Violence, prejudice, and hatred directed at people because of their identity is abhorrent. No one should ever face fear or violence for their identity or beliefs. Everyone in our country must be safe to practise their religion or live in accordance with their worldview in peace. Find the full statement on: https://humanists.uk/2025/10/02/humanists-uk-statement-on-manchester-synagogue-attack/

This Sunday, our very own volunteer Ffion, will talk about her journey from Islam and her home country at the Leicester Secular Society.

Our keynote speaker Dr Darrel Ray taking to the stage to discuss how religion impacts the brain. It’s fascinating and horrifying in equal measure to hear about the effect of purity culture and shame on individuals in high-control religious groups.

Faith to Faithless Visit the post for more.

I could not be more honoured to be at the first ever in-person @faithtofaithless.bsky.social conference, on Apostasy and Mental Health, joined by incredible therapists, academics, survivors & activists. #AposConf25

www.faithtofaithless.com

Watch our video youtu.be/zMNayPn26YY?...

And we’re off with #AposConf25!

Faith to Faithless is ten years old this year, and we’re celebrating with our first in-person conference, focusing on the mental heath impacts of leaving high-control religions, and we have an incredible line-up of international experts.

We are delighted to have so many therapists, researchers, survivors, and activists with us today for our first in-person conference, celebrating an incredible ten years of Faith to Faithless.

Profile photo of Kathleen Hallisey, solicitor. She is smiling and has short bobbed hair.

Promotional poster for the Apostasy Conference with purple background. Below the Faith to Faithless logo it says 'The effect of apostasy on mental health - Wednesday 1 October - Apostasy Conference 2025' There are 3 coloured silhouettes of people walking in the background.

We’re thrilled to host solicitor Kathleen Hallisey to speak at the Apostasy Conference in London 1 Oct.

Kathleen defends survivors of abuse in religious settings and campaigns for legislation change to protect people from coercive cultic abuse.

Tickets: humanists.uk/events/apost...

We can't wait to welcome back our friend @apostatealex.bsky.social Alexander Barnes-Ross, former Scientologist and activist to talk at the Apostasy Conference on 1 Oct in London.

Limited tickets still available: humanists.uk/events/apost...

Apostasy Conference 2025 | The effect of apostasy on mental health

Leaving religion can come at a high personal cost – not only socially or culturally, but mentally and emotionally. Yet the psychological impact of religious trauma and deconversion remains one of the most overlooked issues in mainstream mental health discourse. 🧵

humanists.uk/events/apost...

A photo of two women arm in arm and smiling, both wearing purple t shirts with Faith to Faithless written on. In the background is a wall of flowers in rainbow colours.

This year marks 10 years of Faith to Faithless 💛

For a decade, we’ve supported people leaving high-control religions — often at great personal cost.

Help us keep going for the next 10 years. Every gift makes a difference.

👉 www.humanists.uk/ftf-fundraiser2025

Apostasy Conference 2025 | The effect of apostasy on mental health

humanists.uk/events/apost...

Profile picture of Dr Gillie Jenkinson smiling, sitting on a couch with a bookshelf behind her.

Poster to advertise the Apostasy Conference. Below the Faith to Faithless logo it reads 'The effect of apostasy on mental health - Wednesday 1 October' In the background you can see silhouettes of three people walking.

Exciting news!

Psychotherapist & researcher Dr Gillie Jenkinson, a leading voice in recovery from cults & high-control religions, will speak at the Apostasy Conference 2025 in London on 1 Oct.

🎟 Tickets: humanists.uk/events/apost...

Leaving a high-control religion can feel like starting from scratch. You rebuild.

Then life throws another hardship, and it feels like you’re starting again – again.

But you’re not. Each time you rise, your strength and resilience grow. You’re building your safety net.

Recovering from Religion, Cults, High Control Groups: Why is it so difficult? | Bangor Humanists

Join Bangor Humanists to hear Dr Darrel Ray founder of @recoveringfromreligion.org on “Recovering from Religions&Cults Why is it so Difficult?”

He’ll also be in Nottingham (5 Oct) & Oxford (6 Oct)
Professionals: don’t miss him at the Apostasy Conference in London 1 Oct
humanists.uk/events/recov...

Robert Jay Lifton, Psychiatrist Drawn to Humanity’s Horrors, Dies at 99

We’re saddened by the death of Dr Robert Jay Lifton, whose work on cults & high-control groups gave survivors language to name their experiences. His insights into thought reform & mind control remain a cornerstone of understanding & healing. 💙
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/04/o...

Volunteer role: Non-Religious Pastoral Carer at Apostasy Conference 2025 - Humanists UK Closing date: 23 September 2025

🌱 Are you warm, empathetic & a good listener?

Volunteer in the well-being room at the Apostasy Conference (Wed 1 Oct, Covent Garden, London).

✅ Just a few hours of your time
✅ Full training provided
✅ Lunch & refreshments
✅ Expenses paid

👉 opportunities.humanists.uk/jobs/6414939...

A picture of Dr Travis McKie-Voerste's face smiling with trees in the background. He is wearing glasses and a shirt and tie. The image has the logo of Faith to Faithless, and underneath the text is "Sanctified Harm, The costs of religious assumptions in therapy - Hear talk from Travis McKie-~Voerste - Apostasy Conference 2025"

We’re thrilled to announce Dr Travis McKie-Voerste, Director of the Secular Therapy Project, as a speaker at the Apostasy Conference 2025 🗓️ 1 Oct, London.

Talk: Sanctified Harm: The Costs of Religious Assumptions in Therapy
humanists.uk/events/apost...

Thinking about leaving a high-control group? This checklist can help you prepare Leaving a high-control group or environment can be one of the most courageous and difficult decisions a person makes.

A great resource created by ICSA - a checklist to help you prepare to leave a high-control group.

icsatoday.substack.com/p/thinking-a...

Poster with a picture of Dr Darrel Ray, with his talk title - Religious Trauma and your brain. Advert for the Apostasy Conference 2025 in Covent Garden, London on 1st October.

Speaker Spotlight!

We’re thrilled to welcome Dr Darrel Ray to the Apostasy Conference 2025

Founder of Recovering from Religion and the Secular Therapy Project, Darrel is a leading voice on religious trauma and recovery.

📅 1 Oct | 📍 London
humanists.uk/events/apost...

Today is day one of #thatshumanism! 🎉 – our popular social media campaign featuring our much-loved animations with Stephen Fry. To celebrate, we're launching a brand-new series of posters designed for schools, teachers, and anyone curious about the humanist approach to life. 🧵

Apostasy Conference 2025 | The effect of apostasy on mental health

Excited to announce our Apostasy Conference exploring religious trauma and how best to support - on Wed 1 Oct, London!

Speakers:
*Dr Darrel Ray @recoveringfromreligion.org
*Dr Travis McKie-Voerste
*Dr Savin Bapir-Tardy
*Dr Gillie Jenkinson
*more to come...

Tickets: humanists.uk/events/apost...

So proud to be a tiny part of this research.

Groundbreaking study exposes hidden struggles of ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses in the UK A groundbreaking study published in The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion has shed light on the profound and long-lasting challenges faced by people leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses ...

This research confirms what we see every day: people leaving high-control religions face immense barriers to rebuilding their lives. Without informed support, too many are left isolated, misunderstood, and at risk. But with the right help, recovery is possible.

humanists.uk/2025/08/05/g...

Have you got a large following of ex-religious people in the UK? Do you have a YouTube channel, TikTok, X, Insta, FB, where you talk about the issues of leaving religion, or religious abuse?

Get in touch. We have stories to share, and people to speak. info@faithtofaithless.com

Meet the Jehovah’s Witnesses who’ve left the faith and never looked back There can be severe social consequences to leaving your religion behind, but many continue to do it, spurred on by a desire to live and learn independently. Taz Ali meets the people who’ve used their ...

'Why prepare to die when I could choose to live?'

Read Micki’s story – a journey from a life of constant control to one of freedom and self-discovery.

If you’re seeking support after leaving high-control religious group, please, reach out.

www.the-independent.com/life-style/j...

Faith to Faithless Visit the post for more.

To find out more about Faith to Faithless, how we can help, and all of our work helping people who have left high-control religious groups, visit our website.

www.faithtofaithless.com

No one should grow up believing they are damned simply for existing. No one should be told that their very capacity to love is something to be cast out. Nobody should be beaten, shunned, or isolated for being themselves. Tragically, this is the experience of so many people who reach out to us.

You might be physically punished for breaking ‘purity’ rules, have your phone taken to cut off support, or be paraded in front of others as a warning. You're told to confess. You may threatened with a forced marriage, or with being sent away to a ‘camp’ if you don’t comply.