Schedule a free consultation.
Leaving religion can cause people to feel confused, angry, alone, and misunderstood.
I help ex-Christians free themselves from cyclical patterns of distress and self-judgment. My specialties include religious trauma, careers, and relationships.
Hi, I’m Brian (he/him/his)
I grew up in a Fundamentalist church in the midwest. My deconstruction process from religion began in college. It has not been the easiest journey, but it’s been liberating and absolutely worth it. Now I want to help other folx work through similar issues. I’m a licensed mental health counselor based in Seattle, Washington and Houston, Texas. I have completed level 1 training in Internal Family Systems therapy. Beyond private practice, I’ve gained experience at multiple eating disorder treatment facilities. My clients say they enjoy working with me because I'm laid-back and can crack a joke. I strive to be Health at Every Size-aligned, BIPOC- and 2SLGBTQ+-affirming, and fat-positive. I am a proud dues-paying member of Texas Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (TxSAIGE).
Who Do I Work With?
My clients struggle like you do. Even though they have a greater sense of autonomy over their beliefs and values than ever before, life hasn't gotten much easier.
When they first come in, they feel overwhelmed by constant internal dilemmas. They're angry about how they were raised or treated in the church. Some were traumatized from being homeschooled. They want to have compassion for their relatives, but don't want to get hurt again.
They feel like they can't be themselves around their families. Family communication has changed since they left the church. They keep their mouths shut during family functions, letting relatives talk about their own beliefs instead. Or, they find themselves constantly arguing with family instead of being able to enjoy each other's company.
They're grieving the loss of community they gave up. They remember feeling safe and happy when they shared absolute beliefs with the people around them. Now they feel alone and isolated, wondering if they might find or even want community like that again.
Their anger about their childhood or previous trauma gets in the way of the life they want in so many ways. They aren’t the kind of friend and partner they want to be. They feel like they’re failing at work or school. And they can't stop judging themselves.
Before they came to see me, they felt like no one else understood their struggles. Their significant others or previous therapists minimized their experiences, albeit unintentionally. They felt like they had to keep their anxiety, guilt, and anger to themselves. And they worried that their emotions would control them for the rest of their lives.
Like my clients, you deserve to live authentically and stress-free. Resolution is not out of your reach. If you want to start experiencing life in a way that matches your own values, I’d love to help you get there.
Some of my clients are officially, vocally ex-Christian.
Some of my clients are thinking about leaving the church, and are keeping it quiet.
Some of my clients want to remain within Christianity, but have related issues to explore.
Some of my clients have completely non-Christian backgrounds.
Wherever you stand on your religious beliefs, I think I can work with you. Yes, I am ex-Christian, but my job is not to push my values or goals onto you. If our work leads you to renewing your faith in a way that improves your mental health, that works for me.
What Types of Issues Do I Help With?
These are some of the issues I commonly see in my ex-Christian clients:
Internal emotional issues:
Dealing with the fallout of cutting off, or being cut off by, family members
Complicated relationships with parents as an adult
Frequent dwelling on trauma related to family, church, and school
Short temper with coworkers, family, and friends
Continuous self-doubt and guilt
Feeling isolated and having trouble making new friends
Relationship issues:
Difficulty trusting partners
Struggling with having boundaries respected by a partner or their family
Partners not understanding or having empathy for mental health issues
Guilt related to behavior in previous relationships
Challenges with socializing/dating after growing up homeschooled
Career Issues:
Having a job that is demanding and unfulfilling
Feeling handcuffed to the wrong job by a high income
Coworkers do not respect emotional or time boundaries
Not moving ahead in life at a desired pace
History of experiencing sexual/racial/religious/disability discrimination
Issues at home:
Frequently feeling lonely
Not enough alone/relaxation time
Living far away from family
As an Internal Family Systems therapist, I can help with these issues and more.
Contact me for a free 15-minute consultation.
(425) 610-6287 | brian@bjonescounseling.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What age range do you work with?
In general, I focus on working with millennials and young adults, aged roughly 18-40. I have also worked with older adults. At this time I am not accepting clients under the age of 18.
What kind of availability do you have?
I meet with clients during the day, Monday-Friday. In Central time, I work afternoons M/W/F and mornings Tues/Thurs.
Do you take insurance?
I accept electronic payments via Stripe, and my rate per 50-minute session is $200.
I do not take insurance. Making this choice has provided critical financial stability to my work and life. It has also provided greater ability to collaborate with clients on the way we work, without insurance companies telling us what to do.
Most of my clients receive reimbursement from their insurance provider at out-of-network rates. Please let me know if you would like any help from me with this process.
I am however contracted with Lyra Health, an Employee Assistance Program. Check with your employer to see if you have access to Lyra Health benefits.
Have any more questions? Contact me for more information.
Featured Blog Posts
Publications where I’ve been featured:
