Cassie’s Struggle with Faith-Based Therapy and its Devastating Consequences on Her Mental Health
Cassie, a transgender woman, was pressured by her family to undergo a “treatment” aimed at “curing” her gender identity. Under the guidance of a faith-based counselor, she began a form of talking therapy that sought to unravel her reasons for not identifying with the gender assigned to her at birth.
The therapy soon escalated to harmful accusations, labeling Cassie as mentally unwell, broken, and the result of potential abuse. Her parents were blamed for not providing adequate support. Sessions intensified with readings of holy scripture and condemnations of the “transgender lifestyle.”
The psychological toll was profound. Cassie’s body dysphoria deepened, and she began to feel as though she was demonically possessed. The emotional strain led to dangerous coping mechanisms, including self-starvation and self-harm, as she struggled to reconcile her identity with the damaging treatment.
