The Secular Therapy Project
The Secular Therapy Project (Australia and New Zealand)
Almost half of all Australians aged 16-85 years old will experience a mental health disorder during their lifetime, with many seeking psychological support from a mental health professional. In recent years, there has been an increasing number of people leaving their religion, and reaching out to therapists for help. Unfortunately, many therapists do not have sufficient understanding or training to work with those who have left religious communities, and as a result, may encourage their clients to return to their church, or continue to practise their faith. Therapists’ lack of understanding and awareness about the harm, confusion, and trauma that may occur in religious environments can make it difficult for those who have left their faith to find the support they need.
The Secular Therapy Project provides a network of therapists who are non-religious, agnostic, or atheist, and have an understanding of the unique needs of those who are in the process of leaving or have left religion. Every therapist listed on our database has been carefully screened by our own team of qualified and experienced mental health clinicians to ensure that they are:
- Professionally qualified, and registered with a relevant professional body (e.g. AHPRA, AASW, PACFA, ACA, etc.)
- Secular (non-religious)
- Using evidence-based treatments
Once an applicant has been shown to be compliant with these criteria, they are added to our database of health care providers so that people seeking help through our website can access them.
What is Evidence-Based Treatment?
Evidence-based treatment refers to therapeutic approaches that have been rigorously tested and proven effective through scientific research to treat a range of mental health disorders. Such therapies may include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness, and many others.
Next Step
See below for profiles and contact details of therapists based in Australia and New Zealand who are listed on the Secular Therapy Project database. If you would like to access therapy with them, please contact them directly.
Our Therapists
VIC
Caroline
If you’re struggling with shame, anxiety, or existential concerns related to your religious background, I’m here to help you move forward. Religion plays a huge role shaping our understanding of ourselves, our values, and the world around us. It can be a daunting but incredibly rewarding journey to open these ideas up for examination. My goal is to provide you with a safe, supportive space to explore, deconstruct, and create new understandings that feel true to who you are.
My work is fundamentally guided by an existential-humanistic ethos which emphasises collaborative exploration and meaning-making. I bring a curious and open stance to every session because I believe strongly in the importance of providing a counselling experience which is respectful and empowering of each person’s unique journey.
Rather than a one size fits all approach, I draw upon a range of therapeutic modalities tailored to each individual’s circumstances, including Emotion-Focused Therapy and ACT. I am experienced in working with a range of concerns and have a special interest in religious trauma, as well as working with LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent populations.
I offer face-to-face sessions for individuals and couples at my office in Boronia, VIC, in addition to video and telephone sessions.
Suburb: Boronia, VIC (eastern Melbourne suburbs)
Phone: 0435 855 382
Email: contact@consideredcounselling.net
Website: www.consideredcounselling.net
Modalities: face to face, phone, video
NSW
Jane
Jane is a registered counsellor in Sydney, Australia specialising in Religious and Spiritual Trauma, Narcissistic Abuse and Cult Recovery. After decades of church involvement and ministry Jane began to experience a gradual period of doubt, fear and cognitive dissonance. This led to withdrawing from church and faith and ultimately, leaving both. Jane writes about this experience in her eBook “The Sentimental Non-Believer.” Jane works with people experiencing anxiety and depression, grief and loss, in addition to supporting people in their grief of leaving God and / or faith, trauma recovery and the rebuilding of identity.
Jane is a Co-Founder of The Religious Trauma Collective and supports therapists to understand this complex experience so they can better serve their clients.
Tracy
Tracy is a clinical psychologist based at Penrith Therapy Centre, offering both in‑person and telehealth appointments. She has a strong passion for supporting people who are rebuilding their lives after leaving restrictive or high‑control belief systems. Tracy works with individuals experiencing spiritual abuse, fear‑based conditioning, identity confusion, relationship strain, and the emotional aftermath of environments that limit autonomy or self‑expression.
Tracy works with clients across the lifespan and supports a wide range of concerns, including complex trauma, anxiety, depression, burnout, chronic pain, parenting adjustment, and eating disorders. Her therapeutic style is warm, grounded, and trauma‑informed. She aims to create a safe, non‑judgemental space where clients can explore their experiences, reconnect with their strengths, and rebuild trust in themselves as they move toward a more authentic and self‑directed life.
Her practice draws on evidence‑based therapies including EMDR (eye‑movement desensitisation and reprocessing), ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy), CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), schema therapy, and Internal Family Systems (IFS). As an older therapist with lived experience of recovery from religion, Tracy brings depth, empathy, and insight to her work, offering compassionate support through this significant transition and identity reconstruction.
Suburb: Penrith NSW
Phone: (02) 4721 5108
Website: penriththerapycentre.com.au
