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event intro
Our virtual event, Sacred Shift Summit: Healing from Religious & Spiritual Trauma, provides a healing space for those impacted by religious or spiritual trauma, including members of religious groups and spiritual communities where abuse of power has taken place, LGBTQI+ individuals, and others seeking healing.
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Religious and spiritual trauma refers to the psychological, emotional, and spiritual harm experienced by individuals within a religious or spiritual context. This harm can stem from abusive leadership, rigid doctrines, dogmatic teachings, or oppressive practices that stifle personal growth and freedom. If left unaddressed, such trauma can have lifelong impacts on personal development, relationships, and overall well-being.
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The summit aims to validate personal experiences, help participants transform their belief systems, and offer resources and community support to facilitate healing and personal growth. Join us to lay old, unhelpful beliefs to rest and embrace a new path of self-discovery and empowerment.
mission
Our mission is to illustrate the power imbalances, indoctrination, and false interpretations that contribute to spiritual and religious abuse. By highlighting these dynamics, we aim to empower individuals to discern and redefine their spiritual beliefs in a safe, supportive environment.
We welcome individuals at any stage of their healing journey to join us as everyone will find value in our summit. Our purpose is to create a community space grounded in compassion, mutual respect, and understanding where we can openly discuss our experiences and find comfort, support, and valuable insights. We want our participants to feel welcomed, and valued, and experience a sense of belonging while we share space together.
Meet Your Host
As the visionary behind the Sacred Shift Summit, I am dedicated to supporting healing and transformation for those impacted by religious and spiritual trauma. Through my own journey, I have witnessed both the profound effects of this trauma on the psyche and the resilience of the human spirit firsthand. By deconstructing distorted teachings and uncovering their pure truths for myself, I aim to help others question and shed harmful beliefs, rebuild their spiritual identities, and find community.
My passion for this work stems from my commitment to truth and social justice. I believe in the power of storytelling, community, and holistic healing practices to guide individuals toward recovery and empowerment. The Sacred Shift Summit seeks to validate people’s experiences, providing a supportive community platform for voices that have been silenced.
By bringing together experts, survivors, and allies, we can spark meaningful conversations, build discernment, and inspire lasting change in our society. Join me in this transformative journey as we navigate the complexities and nuances of religious and spiritual trauma, and work towards a future where everyone can thrive.
Stacy Piccolo
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Director of Well-being
MindMovement LLC
Your speakers.
Learn from leading experts who have navigated and overcome spiritual and religious trauma. All of our affirming speakers will provide hope, encouragement, and practical healing modalities. Of course, this can be a heavy topic so we aim to keep the mood light and hopeful.
Dr. Jamie Marich
Author, Educator, Clinician, EMDR & Expressive Arts Trainer, Founder and CEO, The Institute for Creative Mindfulness​​​
Rev. Jon Scott
Spiritual Leader, First Unity Spiritual Campus, Musician,
Founder, One Love Consciousness
Dr. Sally Adams
Author, Expressive Arts Therapist, Creativity Coach, Artist, Co-host, Radical Emergence podcast​​
Dr. Jamie Marich
Dr. Jamie Marich, Ph.D. (she/they), is an internationally acclaimed expert in trauma recovery, EMDR therapy, addiction, dissociation, and expressive arts. With nearly two decades of clinical experience, Dr. Marich has made it a priority to support survivors of spiritual abuse and religious trauma. Raised in a unique religious background—one Catholic parent and one Evangelical parent—Dr. Marich’s personal experiences profoundly shape her professional work.
After surviving a long-term stint working for the Catholic church in humanitarian aid and studying extensively at a yoga ashram, Dr. Marich developed a nuanced understanding of how spiritual beliefs can both harm and heal. This perspective is poignantly captured in her upcoming memoir, You Lied to Me About God, which explores the intersections of spiritual abuse, intergenerational trauma, and weaponized faith. Scheduled for release on October 15, 2024, the memoir delves into her tumultuous journey, marked by addiction, spiritual manipulation, and resilience.
Dr. Marich's work has been a beacon of hope for many. She has written several books and speaks internationally, offering workshops and trainings that blend her expertise in trauma and expressive arts.
Living in Akron, OH, Dr. Marich runs a private practice and online training network. Her contributions to the mental health and LGBTQ+ communities have been recognized with numerous awards, highlighting her commitment to reducing stigma around dissociative disorders through the sharing of her lived experiences. For more about Dr. Marich’s work, visit jamiemarich.com.
Rev. JOn Scott
Rev. Jon Scott (he/him) is more than just a spiritual leader; he’s a passionate storyteller and a warm-hearted guide on the journey of faith. Growing up in Milledgeville, GA, in a family steeped in fundamentalist preaching, Jon found his voice through music and the joy of connecting with others in church. His love for singing has always been a source of inspiration, anchoring him in his spiritual path.
With a knack for breaking down complex ideas about the universe, Jon makes spirituality approachable for everyone. He draws wisdom from influential thinkers like Dr. Wayne Dyer, Bishop Carlton Pearson, and Baba Ram Dass, blending their insights with his own unique perspective.
Outside of his teachings as spiritual leader of First Unity Spiritual Campus in St Petersburg, FL, Jon has shared his thoughts as a co-host on the “Holy Heretic” podcast, and he continues to spark meaningful conversations and encourage deep reflection through his messages and One Love meditations.
Jon’s work goes beyond personal growth; it’s about healing and transformation, especially for those who have experienced religious trauma. He champions the idea that spirituality should be a source of love, inclusion, and understanding, rather than division or control. For Jon, questioning beliefs is a vital part of the spiritual journey, as he believes it leads to a more compassionate and connected world.
Dr. Sally Adnams-jones
Dr. Sally Adnams-Jones (she/her) is a therapist, author, and artist dedicated to exploring human transformation and empowerment. Born in Zambia, and having lived in South Africa, Britain and Canada, Dr. Adnams-Jones’s journey has taken her across the globe, studying various disciplines including arts, science, education, psychology, neurology, evolutionary spirituality, creativity, and feminism. Her Ph.D. focused on how creativity transforms individuals, a theme that continues to inform her work.
Dr. Adnams-Jones has studied for many years under several Indian gurus, and completed her postgraduate work in transformative Yoga Education in the United States. She has particular expertise in describing the systems and power dynamics at play in both religious and spiritual trauma, as she has encountered it in many forms throughout her life.
Her latest book, Art-Making with Refugees and Survivors: Creative and Transformative Responses to Trauma after Natural Disasters, War and Other Crises, reflects her commitment to using creativity as a tool for healing. Currently, she is working on a new book titled Integral Taoism and her co-hosted podcast can be found at RadicalEmergence.org
Now residing on Vancouver Island, Dr. Adnams-Jones finds inspiration in the island’s pristine natural environment and its eco-friendly community. She is developing a retreat center, where she integrates her spiritual knowledge, and her creative experiences into her integrally informed counseling practice, helping clients navigate their journeys of transformation. Her work emphasizes the interconnectedness of body, mind, and community in the healing process.
Featuring Dr. Jamie's
soon-to-be released book
In You Lied to Me About God, Dr. Jamie explores the schisms that erupt when faith is weaponized, causing turmoil in a mixed religious upbringing that leaves individuals feeling damned regardless of their choices. Marich takes readers through a tumultuous coming-of-age marked by addiction, escapism, spiritual manipulation, misogyny, and abuse, revealing the complicity of her mother’s silence and the dominance her father exerted over her body, desires, identity, and even her eternal soul.
Reaching a breaking point, Marich embarks on a pilgrimage from shrines in Croatia to ashrams in Florida, seeking a faith that heals and accepts her wholly. In her journey, she finds a deeper relationship with an expansive and loving God, embracing her queerness and her true self.
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Join us at the Sacred Shift Summit to hear Dr. Jamie share insights from her powerful book, You Lied to Me About God. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from her experiences and discover paths to healing and acceptance.​​
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Breakout
sessions
Engage in important discussions to share your unique experience, creating an environment of mutual support and understanding. By connecting with others, you will build meaningful relationships that create a foundation of shared wisdom and solidarity.
Musical
Performances
Enjoy uplifting musical performances by Dr. Jamie Marich and Rev. Jon Scott, each bringing their unique style to soothe the soul. Dr. Marich's melodies will inspire reflection, while Rev. Scott's will evoke a sense of spiritual rejuvenation and joy.​
Healing MOdalities
Participate in various healing practices including dancing, comedy, music, etc. all aimed at healing the soul and lightening the mood. Through joyful movement, laughter, and uplifting melodies, you'll find a rejuvenating and transformative experience that nurtures both your heart and spirit.
Book
Feature
Discover insights from the newly released book, You Lied to Me About God, by Dr. Jamie Marich. This eye-opening work provides insights on conventional spiritual narratives and invites readers to explore deeper truths about their faith and personal beliefs.
lasting impact
Humans affected by spiritual trauma often experience profound emotional and psychological pain, feeling betrayed by the very systems they trusted and believed in.
For many, this trauma manifests as:
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feelings of shame and guilt
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anxiety and depression
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a sense of isolation from others and oneself
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difficulty trusting in any form of religious or spiritual practice.
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These are real and valid experiences that need our recognition and empathy. Our voices and conversations are crucial for those who have been deeply hurt and in need of healing. We are here to heal together.
