Religious Trauma: Recognizing the Wounds, Rebuilding Hope
Weave and Cleave Conference 2026 - Breakout with David Ruybalid
The Weave to Cleave Conference, hosted by The Faithful City in partnership with Maricopa County Public Health, created a meaningful and necessary space for honest conversations around faith, relationships, and healing. Led by Rev. Dr. Sanghoon Yoo, the gathering brought together leaders, practitioners, and community members who are committed to building healthier, safer ecosystems within both religious and public spaces. The collaboration itself signaled something important—that conversations around faith and trauma are no longer confined to church walls, but are being recognized as vital to the overall health of communities.
In that context, I was on a panel for the mornings main session and then did a break out session. My breakout focused on religious trauma—what it is, how it forms, and why so many people carry its impact silently. Drawing from both personal story and years of advocacy work, I walked through how religious trauma often emerges from environments shaped by power imbalances, fear-based theology, and unaddressed harm. For many in the room, the language itself was clarifying. Naming the reality that trauma is not a failure of faith, but a deeply human response to overwhelming experiences, helped shift the conversation from shame to understanding.
We also explored the real-life impact of this kind of trauma—how it affects the body, relationships, decision-making, and even a person’s sense of identity and connection to God. One of the most important pieces was helping people recognize that what they may have been taught to interpret as “spiritual struggle” is often nervous system dysregulation. That awareness alone can be incredibly freeing. It allows individuals—and leaders—to move from judgment to compassion, and from quick fixes to deeper, more patient care.
Finally, I shared practical steps toward healing from a resource offered by The Religious Trauma Network that I help lead, emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all path. Healing begins with recognizing and validating lived experiences, creating safety, and reclaiming personal agency. It often includes building new, healthy connections and learning to engage faith—or step away from it—in ways that honor one’s story and capacity. For leaders and practitioners in the room, the invitation was clear: prioritize survivor care, believe stories, and create systems that protect people over institutions.
What stood out most about the conference was the posture in the room. There was a willingness to listen, to learn, and to confront hard realities without defensiveness. That kind of space is rare—and it’s exactly what’s needed if we want to see faith communities become places of healing rather than harm.
View My Slides Here:
View This Year’s Program for Weave and Cleave Here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6087904a5904d4620906e400/t/69e3c375f84ba430b0a48e44/1776534390027/Weave_Cleave+Conference_2026_V4.pdf