ABOUT THE THERAPIST
Tara Farrell, Intern
I am passionate about healing the destructive experiences of spiritual harm and abuse and helping clients navigate the anxiety, depression, and trauma responses that often accompany it. I have the most experience working with young adults treating anxiety, depression, and trauma-related symptoms, but I am eager to expand and work with those from many different walks of life. I am an EMDR trained therapist, and work using attachment relationship and self-acceptance oriented techniques.
Hey there! I can't wait to meet you.
You are the expert of your own life. But it doesn't always feel that way - especially in the context of high-control religion. Spiritual harm and abuse uniquely strips away our autonomy and our sense of self. It is so easy to feel trapped, helpless, powerless, and without a voice. Beginning therapy is a big step toward taking back that control even when you feel completely overwhelmed and out of control.
I believe my role as a counselor is to hear your story, move through those hardest parts of it with you, and help recover what was lost or broken along the way. This is often a long but beautiful process that involves radical self-acceptance and letting go of black-and-white worldviews often taught to us by religious authorities. I believe you can rediscover your own voice, your own strengths, joys, and desires in life and begin pursuing them again. In therapy, you can learn to become your own biggest advocate and strongest ally.
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While I did not grow up in a religious household, I was introduced to an evangelical Chrisitan youth group in high school. There I found friends, connection, and support - but I also began to hear conflicting messages. Things I heard at church about my worth, my body, and my future did not match the things I had been taught growing up. I know what it's like to feel conflicted and confused about which parts of the faith feel true and good, and which parts feel destructive and harmful. I know what it's like to be pressured into sets of rigid beliefs even if they don't align with how you actually feel. I know what it's like to feel afraid to leave a church, even if you have doubts, because you can't afford to lose your community.
After five years in this environment, I was anxious and depressed. I felt constantly on-edge, trapped, and powerless to make any choices for my own life. Suddenly, the group dissolved due to a financial scandal and we quickly scattered - I felt completely alone and lost, like I didn't even know who I was anymore.
In the years following, I began to recover. I have discovered the power of relationships that are not built on expectations or performance, but on acceptance and freedom. I regained my confidence in making decisions, made new friends, and was able to set healthier boundaries around how I spent my time. I rediscovered my interests, hobbies, and passions and I am now living a life that I actually enjoy.
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Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Denver Seminary, 2025 (in progress)
EMDR Level 1 Trained Therapist
Masters Level Research Thesis on Spiritual Abuse and Maladaptive Belief Patterns (in progress)
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While not working, in class, or doing homework you can probably find me reading a fantasy novel, watching Star Trek or The Office, or playing Red Dead Redemption 2. I am a serial hobbyist and love trying new art mediums but never seem to stick with a single one long enough to get good at it. My most recent ventures have been in skull/bone carving and engraving. I love music, cooking, and spending time with my partner, my friends, and my cat Waffle.
SPECIALTIES:
Religious & Spiritual Trauma
Adverse Religious Experiences
Anxiety
Depression
Purity Culture Impact
Shame and Guilt Recovery
Pornography Impact
Attachment and Relationship Repair
Self-Acceptance and Core Belief Repair
Grief Work
LGBTQ+
Women's and the Feminine Experience
MODALITIES:
EMDR
Attachment Theory
Self-Acceptance
RATE:
$75/Session
INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH CASEY?