58th Annual PCA Conference

Name: Reframing Religious/Spiritual Abuse: A Structural Family Therapy Approach
Start: 2026-11-07T14:00:00-0500
End: 2026-11-07T14:30:00-0500

Reframing Religious/Spiritual Abuse: A Structural Family Therapy Approach

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Religious and spiritual (R/S) abuse is increasingly recognized as a significant source of psychological, relational, and spiritual harm; however, clinical approaches to treatment remain underdeveloped and largely focused on the individual. This presentation conceptualizes R/S abuse as an inherently relational and systemic phenomenon enacted through patterns of authoritarian leadership, boundary violations, social isolation, and enforced obedience. Using Structural Family Therapy (SFT), we conceptualize the relational harm of R/S abuse, demonstrate how these patterns mirror dysfunctional family patterns, and outline a path towards healing using principles from SFT.

Speakers

Kaylee Van Gent, MA, LAPC, NCC

Graduate Research Assistant, Penn State University

Kaylee Van Gent is a second-year doctoral student in Counselor Education and Supervision at The Pennsylvania State University. She holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Slippery Rock University (2022) and brings 4 years of clinical experience from both private... Read More →

Sarah Shrewsbury-Braxton, PhD

Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania State University

Dr. Sarah Shrewsbury-Braxton (Dr. SB) is an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at Penn State. She earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education from The Ohio State University, her M.S. in School Counseling, Pre-K – 12, from Tennessee State University, and her B.S. in Psychology... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

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58th Annual PCA Conference

Kaylee Van Gent, MA, LAPC, NCC

Sarah Shrewsbury-Braxton, PhD

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Success you have shared X tickets.

58th Annual PCA Conference

Kaylee Van Gent, MA, LAPC, NCC

Sarah Shrewsbury-Braxton, PhD

Attendees (1)

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