Reconnecting with Your Body After Purity Culture

From this month’s blog by CTRR Practitioner Willow Sipling:

“I want to start with a story that might sound familiar to many of us. Picture yourself sitting in church, listening to a sermon about keeping yourself "pure." You hear pastors or leaders obsessively talking about the addictiveness of porn, or the "stumbling blocks" of immodesty found at the beach or on social media. This sermon isn't just about delivering Bible verses, it's about prescribing a certain orthodoxy about people and their bodies. You learn to see yourself and others through a lens of perpetual suspicion, critique, and blame. Every curve, every smile that lingers a bit too long, every desire, every moment of physical pleasure becomes something that needs to be monitored, controlled, or reprimanded.

This wasn't just a sermon—you were receiving a masterclass in what Judith Butler calls "performativity" as it pertains to sex, gender, and relationships.”

With advanced degrees in theology, psychology, and Catholic studies, and as a certified trauma professional, Willow dedicates her work to supporting LGBTQ+ individuals, survivors of abuse, and those emerging from purity culture and conversion practices. Her approach blends humanistic and mindfulness coaching with deep compassion, creating safe spaces for healing and authentic connection.

Beginning Monday, September 15, 2025, Willow is offering a support group titled Reclaiming LGBTQ+ Identity After Non-Affirming Religious Experiences. This group will offer a safe space for LGBTQ+ people who are working on deconstructing and reconstructing their faith, spirituality, beliefs, and ethics in light of their queer identity. It is designed for those who may feel listless or uncertain about "where do I go from here?" after leaving high-control or coercive religious environments. Participants will find support in exploring their post-high-control LGBTQ+ identity, building new community norms and ethics, and navigating challenges such as loneliness, grief, and relationship styles outside traditional religious frameworks. Schedule a free inquiry call with her to learn more and register!

To view the full blog post, please visit this page.